Understanding
Cemetery Rules
Waikato, Bay of Plenty & Across New Zealand
Each local council sets specific rules about memorial sizes and materials for plaques and headstones at their cemeteries. It’s essential these guidelines are followed to ensure your memorial is approved and remains in place.
Here’s what you need to know:
Sizing limits: Every cemetery has its own size restrictions — some allow larger plaques or uprights, others limit the height and width tightly.
Materials: Commonly accepted materials include bronze, granite, porcelain, and certain small uprights, but some cemeteries restrict specific materials or finishes.
Installation requirements: Councils often specify how plaques must be mounted or positioned, sometimes requiring professional installation.
Our promise:
We stay up-to-date with all local council regulations across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and New Zealand to ensure your memorial complies. We’ll advise you on what’s permitted before you order, saving you time and stress.
Installation Process
Once your memorial is crafted and final payment is complete, our experienced team arranges installation at your chosen cemetery. We manage every detail, including:
Confirming installation dates with cemetery management when required
Applying for and securing all required memorial permits or approvals from local councils
Scheduling professional installation to ensure the memorial is securely and correctly placed in accordance with cemetery regulations, although some council cemeteries do install themselves as well.
Cremation specifications
Bay of Plenty
Katikati
Upright Memorial: Headstone 700 x 600 x 75mm set onto 700 x 300 x 100mm base
Tauranga
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto 600 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Garden or Wall :
Garden Ashes : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
Rose Garden : 350 Bronze, Granite or Porcelain x 230mm plaque
Magnolia ( old ) : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 200 x 150mm plaque
Magnolia ( new ) : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 250 x 170mm plaque
Native : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 190 x 190mm plaque
Kauri ( 1,2,3 ) : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
Puriri : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 250 x 200mm plaque
Memorial Gardens ( 1,2,10,11,14,15 ) : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 250 x 200mm plaque
Memorial Gardens ( 3-9, 12,13,16, 17,18 ) : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
Palm Tree : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 250 x 200mm plaque
Pohutukawa : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 250 x 200mm plaque
Ashes Desk ( E,E2,N,R ) : 290 x 200 x 135/50mm Desk
Te Puke
Upright Memorial : Headstone 700 x 600 x 75mm set onto 700 x 300 x 100mm base
Whakatane
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 325 x 75mm set onto 450 x 250 x 100mm Base
Ash Garden or Wall : 250 x 150mm Bronze, Granite or Porcelain plaque
Taneatua
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 325 x 75mm set onto 450 x 250 x 100mm Base
Ash Garden or Wall : 250 x 150mm Bronze, Granite or Porcelain plaque
Galatea
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 325 x 75mm set onto 450 x 250 x 100mm Base
Ash Garden or Wall : 250 x 150mm Bronze, Granite or Porcelain plaque
Rotorua
Ornamental Gardens : Headstone 400 x 325 x 75mm set onto 450 x 250 x 100mm base
Berm lawn : 300 x 230 x 90 /40mm desk granite or plaque set into plaster desk
Niche Wall : 235 x 155 granite or porcelain plaque
Ngakura
Berm lawn : 300 x 230 x 90 /40mm desk granite or plaque set into plaster desk
Reporoa
Kati : 300 x 230 x 90 /40mm desk granite or plaque set into plaster desk
Waikato Region
North Waikato
TUAKAU
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
WAERENGA
Ash Wall or Garden : 250mm x 200mm plaque
TAUPIRI
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
HUNTLY
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
NGARUAWAHAIA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
ORINI
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
MARAMARUA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
MATAHURU
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
POKENO
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
RANGIRIRI
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Baseyour content...
Greater Hamilton Area
RAGLAN
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
WHATAWHATA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 300 x 350 x 75mm set onto 450mm x 350mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
GORDONTON
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 300 x 75mm set onto 600mm x 200mm x 100mm Base
Ash Wall or Garden : 230mm x 150mm plaque
Hamilton
HAMILTON PARK
Web of memories : Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 650 x 350 x 100mm Base
Granite Wall : Bronze 200 x 180mm plaque
GARDEN OF MEMORIES
G,H I, J to R : Bronze 150 x 100mm plaque
S : Bronze, Granite, Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Memorial Garden : 1 & 4 Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Memorial Garden : 2 & 3 Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Pergola Garden : 1,4 & 5 Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Pergola Garden : 2, 3 &6 Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Pond : 1 & 2 Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Pond : 3 Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Pond 4 : Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Fountain : Bronze 150 x 100mm plaque
Sunken Garden 1 : Bronze or Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Sunken garden 2 : Bronze 180 x 150mm plaque
Sunken garden 2 extension : Bronze or Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Sunken Garden 3 : Bronze, Granite, Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Sunken Garden Wall : Porcelain 150 x 120mm plaque
GARDENS OF REMEMBERANCE
Bellbird : Bronze 150 x 100mm plaque
Fantail : Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Kea : Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Kereru : Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Kiwi : Bronze, Granite, Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Kokako : Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Mohua : Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Tui : Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Weka : Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
MELIA GARDENS
Kaikoura : Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Kaweka : Granite 250 x 150mm plaque
Kaimai : Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Tararua : Bronze 250 x 150mm plaque
Mamaku : Bronze, Granite, Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Ruahine : Bronze, Granite, Porcelain 250 x 150mm plaque
Waipā
HAUTAPU
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230 plaque
Garden of Memories : Bronze 150 x 100mm plaque
LEAMINGTON
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 500 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
Garden of Memories : Bronze plaque 150 x 100mm plaque
PUKERIMU
Ash Berm : Bronze 180 X 150mm plaque
TE AWAMUTU
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 500 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
KIHIKIHI
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
PIRONGIA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 500 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
PATERANGI
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 500 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
OHAUPO
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 500 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Berms and Gardens : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 350 x 230mm plaque
Eastern Waikato
MORRINSVILLE
Upright Memorial : Headstone 600 x 500 x 75mm set onto 650 x 300 x 100mm base
Niche Wall : Bronze 370 x 230mm plaque
TE AROHA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 600 x 500 x 75mm set onto 650 x 300 x 100mm base
Niche Wall : Bronze 370 x 230mm plaque
MATAMATA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 600 x 500 x 75mm set onto 650 x 300 x 100mm base
Niche Wall : Bronze 370 x 230mm plaque
Hauraki Plains
PAEROA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto 600 x 300 x 100mm base
WAIHI
Ash Garden or Wall : Bronze, Granite or Porcelain 380 x 230mm plaque
NGATEA
Ashes wall : 360 x 230mm plaque
South Waikato
TIRAU
Upright Memorial : Headstone 440 x 400 x 75mm set onto 500 x 300 x 100mm base
PUTARURU
Upright Memorial : Headstone 440 x 400 x 75mm set onto 500 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Garden or Berm : 350 x 250mm bronze, granite or porcelain plaque
TOKOROA
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 600 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Garden or Berm : 350 x 250mm bronze, granite or porcelain plaque
MANGAKINO
Ash Garden or Berm : 250 x 150mm bronze, granite or porcelain plaque
TAUPŌ
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto a 600 x 350 x 100mm base
Ash Garden or Berm : 250 x 150mm bronze, granite or porcelain plaque
TURANGI
Ash Garden or Berm : 250 x 150mm bronze, granite or porcelain plaque
Ruapehu
TAUMARUNUI
Ash Garden or Berm : 250 x 150mm or 340 x 150 bronze or granite plaque
MANUNUI
Ash Garden or Berm : 340 x 150mm bronze or granite plaque
Ōtorohanga
Upright Memorial : Headstone 500 x 400 x 75mm set onto 570 x 300 x 100mm base
Ash Wall – 305 x 115mm bronze or granite plaque
KAWHIA
Ash Wall – 385 x 115mm bronze or granite plaque
TE KUITI
Upright Memorial : Headstone 400 x 325mm set onto 500 x 300 x 100mm base
What Families Can Expect
Installation timing varies depending on cemetery schedules and permit processing but typically occurs within 1-2 weeks after production is complete. We’ll communicate with you throughout this process so you know when to expect installation and can plan any unveiling or dedication ceremonies accordingly.
You're welcome to visit us anytime to talk about a memorial for your loved one.
Visit: 41 Shakespeare Street, Leamington, Cambridge 3432
Phone: 07 827 5226
Email: info@cremationplaques.co.nz
Open: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm