Cemeteries

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The Timaru District has several cemeteries. Most are looked after by the Timaru District Council, however, there are some operated by other organisations.

The Council cemeteries are located at Timaru, Temuka, Geraldine, Pleasant Point, Arundel and Pareora West. We have also been vested with cemeteries at Woodbury and Mesopotamia with local input into both of these sites.

You are welcome to visit any of the Timaru District cemeteries during daylight hours.

Hours for interments

Burials and ashes interments can be held Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Under special circumstances an interment can be held outside of the above hours. Your funeral director or the arranger of the funeral will need to make a request for the time required, it is also dependent on the interment contractor being available. Additional charges apply.

Floral tributes and ornaments

Floral tributes placed on the grave will be removed ten days after the interment. It is a good idea to have one or more containers for flowers incorporated into the base of the headstone or memorial. Your monumental mason can provide these at the time of arranging and installing a headstone, plaque or memorial.

For maintenance, safety and out of respect for others, please do not place floral tributes, plants, ornaments or containers on or in the lawn or the mowing strip at the base of the headstones.

Glass jars and vases are not permitted for safety reasons.

Burial rights

Burial rights give permission to be interred in a plot. They do not give ownership of the land, just the right to use a plot.

Cremations

The Council does not operate a crematorium. However, there is a private facility. The South Canterbury Crematorium is located at 410 Beaconsfield Road, their contact phone number is 03 684 3251.

Last updated: 04 Oct 2023