Burial and Cremation Act 1964

Offences and penalties

54: Offences concerning burials

You could also call this:

"Breaking the rules about burying bodies"

Illustration for Burial and Cremation Act 1964

You can commit an offence if you bury a body in a place where it is not allowed. You must give notice of a burial to the nearest District Court Judge or Justice. If you bury a body without permission, you can be fined up to 200 pounds if you are convicted, according to sections 36, 41, 46, 47, and 48.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM355872.

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

54AA: Offences concerning certificate of cause of death or certificate relating to stillbirth, or

"Breaking rules about death certificates is an offence"

55: Unlawful exhumation, or

"It's illegal to dig up a buried body without permission"

Part 8Offences and penalties

54Offences concerning burials

Any person who, contrary to any of the provisions of sections 36, 41, 46, 47, and 48:
buries a body in any place in which the burial of that body is not permitted; or
fails to give notice of the burial of a body to the nearest District Court Judge or Justice; or
buries a body without obtaining the necessary sanction—

on conviction

Compare

1908 No 19 ss 75, 80(2), 81(2), 82(4)

Notes

Section 54: amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
Section 54(b): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).