Planning a Natural Burial in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Kia ora, I know starting to think about burying your loved one, or even planning your own burial, can be a difficult topic to navigate. As a family, we found that a natural burial was a special way to return Mum to the earth.

It made it easier that this was Mum's burial choice; we wanted to respect her wishes anyway we could. And, surrounded by native bush, was a beautiful place to say goodbye to her.

If you are considering this option, here are practical tips we found helpful when planning.

Mum's final resting spot

Understand What a Natural Burial Means

A natural burial means no embalming, metal, including handles, on or in the casket, or concrete for headstones. Instead, you must use biodegradable materials such as untreated wood, wicker baskets, or shrouds made from natural fabrics. Mum also needed to be dressed in natural fabrics - we chose a simple cotton dress. This ensured her body could decompose naturally, which is the underlying philosophy of natural burial.

Mum had the most beautiful shroud pre-made by a woman who makes eco shrouds in Managawhai. See here: Ake Ake Shrouds. With a shroud, we also needed a board to carry Mum to the cemetery with and to lower her into the ground.

The board must be biodegradable. You will need straps to help keep your person on the board when moving and lowering them down. We used tie-down straps, which we removed once lowered. You would need biodegradable straps if you wanted to leave them with your loved one.

Standing in the bush, seeing mum into the ground while very sad, was at the same time beautiful due to the setting and the family gathering. I loved the way she organised this for herself. When we buried her, one of the things I said was, 'Mum has taught us many things; now she has taught us how to die.'

Choose the Right Location

We have several natural burial grounds here in Aotearoa, and options vary by region. Some are located within conservation areas or private land set aside for eco-friendly burials. When selecting a site, consider:

• Proximity to family and friends for visits

• The type of environment (forest, meadow, coastal)

• Site regulations and restrictions on grave markers or plantings

  
  

I suggest that you research local options and visit sites if possible. Find a place that feels right. Mum lived in Mangawhai, and her sister and friends also live there. Mangawhai was our first choice; Mum was actually the first to be buried in the natural cemetery there. This made it extra special. Managwhai Cemetery is also known as Tara Cemetery.

Plan the Burial Details Carefully

Natural burials require some specific planning steps:

• Coffin or shroud: You need biodegradable materials. Avoid metal or synthetic components.

• Grave depth: At Mangawhai, this was not something we could do ourselves. We were required to have the grave dug to their specifications.

• Markers: The cemetery provided the marker and then the coordinates at a later date.

  At the one-year mark, we planted a tree in place of a traditional unveiling. Another very special family gathering for Mum.

• Documentation: The sexton will guide you, or if you have engaged the services of a funeral director, they will help to sort out the required paperwork.

  We found Managwhai were very respectful and helpful. They provided great support every step of the way.

  
  

We were fortunate that we did not have a sudden death, so we had time to plan. This certainly helped make things smoother during the difficult time of grief.

This is us planting her tree one year later

Environmental and Cultural Factors

Natural burial works well with local ecosystems and cultural values. Many natural burial grounds work closely with iwi to respect tikanga and ensure the land is cared for appropriately.

Think about incorporating your own cultural, family and/or religious practices into the service. This might include karakia, planting native trees, or using traditional materials.

Experienced Professionals

Natural burials are still relatively new in New Zealand, so not all funeral directors offer this service. If you want a funeral director, it is important to find professionals who understand the environmental and legal aspects. They can guide you through:

• Selecting eco-friendly burial products

• Coordinating with burial grounds

• Handling permits and paperwork

  
  

As a family, we managed the funeral formalities ourselves - caring for her body, wrapping the shroud, transporting Mum to the cemetery, carrying her to the grave site, karakia and other rites, lowering her into the ground, songs, readings and speeches.

Although we did not engage a funeral director, the Mangawhai Sextons were the people who guided us and coordinated the burial ground, permits and paperwork. They were respectfully present at the time of burial to fulfil legal requirements. As a family, we were very thankful to them for this support.

In Summary and a Gift for you

Planning a natural burial for Mum was a positive experience. It does take time to set up, so I'm unsure if a sudden death would be easy to manage. I think it could be okay if you had already discussed this as the preferred way of burial. Due to it being a natural burial, there is a timeliness needed if you choose this option.

We did have time to plan, and we had support from the cemetery and enough family members to manage the process. Even at this sad time, her burial was peaceful and gentle. For us, the bush (forest) is a lovely final resting place for Mum. I enjoy going back and spending time remembering her there.

I've made a complimentary checklist of 6 things to consider for a natural burial.

To receive this gift, Click Here to download.

You are welcome to contact me if you have any questions about natural burial or if you would like support during this time. Email me: kiaora@michellepeat.co.nz

Sending kind thoughts to you and your family.

Ngā mihi nui, Michelle.

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