Burial and Cremation Act 1964

Establishment, maintenance, and regulation of cemeteries

6: Cemetery to be open to public

You could also call this:

"Cemeteries are open for people to visit and hold ceremonies for loved ones who have passed away."

Illustration for Burial and Cremation Act 1964

You can bury anyone who has died in a cemetery. You can have a religious ceremony or no ceremony at all. The choice is up to the friends and family of the person who died.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM355448.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2025 — View changes

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5: Functions of local authorities, or

"What local authorities do to look after cemeteries"

7: Name of cemetery, or

"What a cemetery is called and how its name can be changed"

Part 1Establishment, maintenance, and regulation of cemeteries

6Cemetery to be open to public

Subject to the provisions of this Act, every cemetery shall be open for the interment of all deceased persons, to be buried with such religious or other ceremony, or without any ceremony, as the friends of the deceased think proper.

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1908 No 19 s 20