Cemetery runs out of room

Warkworth residents hoping to be buried at the Auckland Council-run cemetery in McKinney Road are out of luck.

Only about 17 body burial plots remain and these have all been reserved by customers, pending their demise.

Auckland Council cemeteries manager Catherine Moore says the Council has no plans to acquire more land for another Warkworth cemetery, as there are alternative cemeteries at Te Kapa, Kaipara Flats and Puhoi.

“Other cemeteries in the area have more than 100 years of burial capacity available, even in a scenario where there are increasing numbers of burials. It is prudent to maximise the use of that capacity prior to purchasing an alternative site,” she says.   

Ms Moore says Council aims to provide a cemetery within a 30-minute drive of most Auckland residents.

“We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that there is sufficient provision of land for burial within the region.”

Although there are no body burial spots at the McKinney Road cemetery, there are still ash plots available for those favouring cremation.