Aussie chain plans new crematorium

Bledisloe has bought the site on the corner of Maraekakaho and Orchard roads in Stortford Lodge. Photo / Duncan Brown

An Australia-owned chain of funeral directors is planning a new crematorium and funeral home neighbouring the Hastings District Council-owned Hastings cemetery and crematorium.

Bledisloe New Zealand has bought the site on the corner of Maraekakaho and Orchard roads in Stortford Lodge, where Kiwi Wool currently operates.

Bledisloe is the largest provider of funeral services within New Zealand, with a network of more than 20 funeral firms and associated businesses.

It is owned by listed Australian company InvoCare, the largest operator of funeral homes, cemeteries and crematoriums in Australia.

Bledisloe operations manager Gavin Murphy said plans for the crematorium and chapel were yet to be drawn.

"Over the Christmas break the sale went unconditional on the site and we are yet to sit down and plan what it might look like," he said.

Private crematoriums were an increasing trend in New Zealand over the last 20 years, but no conversation had been had with the Hastings council over its potential cessation of service, he said.

"We run a number of other private crematoriums as well. One is in the Hutt Valley where the council has said, you guys run a good business and there is no need for us to be involved in running a crematorium."

Bledisloe owns Napier's Beth Shan Funerals, where previous owner Bruce Finlayson remains as manager.

His son Matt Finlayson said his father would manage the Hastings site.

Beth Shan currently operates a cremator, the only other cremator in Hawke's Bay.

The increasing size of deceased people was "a very real issue" for the industry, Mr Murphy said.

"The cremator we are proposing is quite a big unit that will cope admirably with the larger person."

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council is considering a discharge-to-air resource consent application for the new crematorium.