Cremation gaining in popularity - even with Maori

More Rotorua residents are choosing to be cremated rather than buried when they die - including a growing number of Maori.
 Rotorua District Council cremation and burial records show more than 100 more people were cremated last year in our region.
Parks and Recreations manager Garry Page said more than 400 cremations were carried out in Rotorua last year - which equated to 75 per cent of the deaths in the city. The remaining 25 per cent chose burials.
Although he couldn't give exact numbers, he said cremations were becoming popular among some Maori - a trend which hadn't been seen in the past.
Mr Page said two of the reasons Maori chose cremations was convenience and not identifying with their culture.
"Families are choosing cremation because it is a cheaper option. Also we have a lot of families overseas who lose a loved one and it is a lot easier to return ashes than it is a body," he said.
"We also find that Maori who don't identify with their culture also favour cremation."
The cost of a cremation was $332 compared with a burial which cost $1716, not including the standard funeral directors' costs.
Osbornes Funeral Home owner/operator Keith Osborne said his company did 179 cremations last year and only two families identified themselves as New Zealand Maori.
"I don't know whether or not it is becoming more popular [among Maori] but I do find if [families] are in a mixed marriage, there is a likelihood they may choose cremation over burial."
Mr Osborne said Maori who were affiliated with a marae tended to go with a traditional Maori funeral.
Rotorua District Council kaupapa Maori director Mauriora Kingi said Te Arawa didn't have any tikanga (custom) on cremations.
"Probably because there wasn't the technology to do cremations."
Mr Kingi said Te Arawa tikanga centred around celebrating the deceased and returning the tupapaku (body) to the earth.
"I don't believe there are any strict laws to say as Maori you can't be cremated. I think it comes down to the individual's right."
A traditional Maori funeral consists of a tangi, where the body is returned to the deceased's marae for three or more days of mourning and celebration of the person's life.
On the last day a funeral service is held and the deceased is usually buried in the marae's urupa (cemetery).
Rotorua district councillor Maureen Waaka agreed there were some Maori choosing cremation over burial because they didn't identify with their culture.
"Some Maori haven't had the opportunity to learn that side of their culture and if they choose to be cremated, then that is their choice.
"For me, I would prefer to be buried but each to their own I say."