The Council does not allow for the pre-purchasing of burial rights; however, the family has the
option to purchase the adjacent plot following an interment. Please refer to our
Cemeteries Handbook for more detail.
Plots
Should a plot no longer be required, the holder of the burial rights may transfer their interest in the plot to another party. The current burial right holder and purchaser must email the change of ownership to the Council. Please email cemeteries@codc.govt.nz to discuss. The Council will not re-purchase burial rights after they have been sold.
Headstones
When choosing a headstone, there are some recommendations about size and ongoing maintenance. The maximum height for headstone within a Council cemetery is one metre and it needs to be located within the marked boundaries on the concrete berms.
Please note if you intend using schist rock to seal it correctly otherwise the extreme weather conditions can cause the rock to explode.
For Alexandra Cemetery in particular we would recommend that when you order a headstone to ask the monumental masons to use a sealant so as to avoid lime staining caused by the high lime content in the water.
If you intend making a headstone out of something personal to the family member, you will need to get permission from Council first as some materials may not be suitable. You need to write to Council and include details about the proposed headstone before permission can be granted.
Memorial Gardens
All Central Otago District Council run cemeteries are lawn cemeteries, which means garden plots cannot be planted on top of graves, or rock or concrete borders around the plot. The only exception is Cromwell Cemetery, where families can purchase a memorial plot and build gardens on their plot.
Contact:
Parks and Recreation Administration Officer
1 Dunorling Street, Alexandra
Phone: (03) 440 0618
cemeteries@codc.govt.nz
