Monique Allen says technology has helped transform the industry. Photo / John Borren
People are more likely to be cremated than buried in Tauranga, new figures show.
According to the Tauranga City Council there were 912 cremations in the city from August 2014 to July 31, 2015, compared with 152 burials. Over the same time frame, data shows 850 cremations and 164 burials.
Cremations were significantly cheaper according to prices off the council website, which charged $500 for adults aged 13 and over with the burial of ashes starting at $80 to $680.
However, a burial at Pyes Pa Cemetery was $2120 for an adult or $680 for the Pyes Pa RSA section.
Parks and Recreation manager Mark Smith said the council operated and managed seven cemeteries in the city. The main cemetery was Pyes Pa Memorial Park, which provided cemetery and crematorium services.
About 15,000 people were buried in the Tauranga cemeteries and it had enough capacity to cater for the next 20 years, he said.
The council also had rules around headstones, he said, and families owned them and were responsible for their upkeep.
"We want long-lasting memorials that won't deteriorate over time. This is the reason that we stipulate memorials are to be made from granite, marble or a natural New Zealand stone that has been approved by cemetery staff."
Legacy Funerals director Mike Savage said it was advisable for a will to state clearly that a funeral service would be in the form of a burial or cremation.
"This then takes out the confusion of the family left behind to decide as to the form that the service would take. If there is a predeceased spouse, it is not always that the remaining spouse would have the same type of service.
"If it is in the will, there is no argument."
The advantage of cremation was the ashes could be scattered or buried at a chosen cemetery anywhere around the country or overseas, he said.
"Also, some families may choose the cremation to take place followed by a memorial service at a later date."
Prepaid funerals had become more popular, he said, and people wanted to eliminate financial pressure for their families.
"That person will set aside funds for the purpose of a funeral service, as they do not wish that the family were left with that burden. It also comes down to peace of mind for all concerned."
Elderly people were encouraged to set aside up to $10,000 in a funeral fund which was excluded from asset testing for the purposes of residential care subsidy assessments, he said.
Variety of headstones now in use
Headstone trends are evolving and people are experimenting with designs as they pay tribute to their loved ones, monumental masons say.
BOP Memorials, Bay Headstone Shop owner Fiona McKenzie said headstones had become a lot cheaper for families.
"Before a traditional headstone could cost a family $5000 to $10,000 now they are costing between $2000 and $4000."
All its headstones were made overseas with various colour options available and people had become more creative. "What we have seen over the last few years is people are willing to experiment with shapes and designs."
Ms McKenzie said everything from motorbikes to cars, TV characters, including Thomas the Tank Engine, and animals were carved out of granite although the wording usually remained traditional. Often a hobby or interest like fishing or golf would become a feature to personalise the headstone while laser etching was another option.
Ceramic photographic tiles were also being used on cremation plaques to make a picture background.
However, Ms McKenzie said the most unusual request was not for the headstone but something to be buried underneath it.
"It was a new set of false teeth as they were getting made and didn't get put in the coffin."
Mount Maunganui sales branch manager Monique Allen said new technology had helped transform the industry and there had been a trend toward having photographs on memorials.
It specialised in custom designs that were unique and eye-catching, she said.