FAQ
Who can be buried here?
Anyone can be buried or cremated at Purewa, no matter your religion, ethnicity, nationality, beliefs, or identity.
How do I find a loved one?
Click here – https://purewa.co.nz/find-a-loved-one/ – to search for your loved one’s cremation or burial record. Please note, a cremation record does not always mean they are also buried at Purewa. There will be two separate records if they were both cremated and buried at Purewa. Contact us if you need any help or would like anymore information.
Do the lounges allow self-catering?
No, Purewa offers professional catering provided by Gattings Catering, which provides a very wide range of food options including special dietary requirements. Find out more about Receptions & Gatherings here.
How do I organise a headstone?
Purewa can recommend local monumental masons, that are approved to erect monuments on our grounds. Find out more about headstones here.
Can I have the service elsewhere and still be buried at Purewa?
Yes, provided you own a plot or have access to one at Purewa.
A loved one has passed away. What’s my first step?
The first step is to contact your funeral director and ask your funeral director to contact us for support. Your funeral director will deal with the legalities, guide you through the next steps and contact us to make the necessary arrangements – whether that’s the service, reception, burial or cremation. Your funeral director will also arrange transfer and care for your loved one.
Who owns and operates Purewa?
The Purewa Cemetery Trust Board operates Purewa and is linked to the Anglican Diocese of Auckland.
What happens to purchased plots that aren’t used?
Unused plots revert to Purewa ownership after 60 years according to current Government legislation.
What does Purewa mean? How long has Purewa been a cemetery and crematorium?
Purewa is a common 19th century spelling of pourewa, meaning a raised platform or high point of land in the Māori language. Before Purewa Cemetery was established in 1889, local Māori tribes erected watch towers on the elevated land to protect their crops, houses and people. Purewa Cemetery is situated on this land today.
Purewa Cemetery was founded in 1889 and the crematorium established in 1957.