Natural Burial and Green Burial Options in New Zealand

Most families planning a funeral discover, too late, that they have been sold things they did not need. Embalming. A sealed casket. A vault liner. Each presented as standard, necessary, or even legally required — when in fact none of them are mandatory under New Zealand law.

Natural burial cuts through that. It is not a fringe practice. It is burial the way it has been done for most of human history: a body returned to the earth with minimal intervention, in a setting designed to support that process rather than resist it. Across New Zealand, demand for natural and green burial is growing steadily, and the legal framework already supports it fully.

What the Law Actually Requires

The Burial and Cremation Act 1964 governs where burials may take place in New Zealand. The Health (Burial) Regulations 1946 set out requirements for transporting remains. Neither piece of legislation requires embalming. Neither requires a casket. Neither mandates any specific container or preparation method for a domestic burial.

Embalming is entirely optional in New Zealand law. Funeral directors are not permitted to tell you otherwise. If a funeral home implies that embalming is legally required, or that a specific type of casket is mandatory, that claim is false and potentially a breach of the Fair Trading Act, which prohibits misleading conduct in trade.

You have the legal right to bury someone in a shroud. You have the right to request a biodegradable container — a willow casket, a cardboard coffin, a linen wrap — and no funeral director can lawfully refuse to arrange a burial on the grounds that you have chosen one of these options.

What Natural Burial Looks Like in Practice

Natural burial prioritises decomposition. The goal is for the body to return to the soil as directly as possible, supporting rather than interrupting ecological processes.

In practice, this typically means:

No embalming. The body is washed and dressed (or shrouded) but not chemically preserved. Refrigeration is used for short-term preservation where needed.

A biodegradable container. Options range from untreated wooden coffins and wicker baskets to simple shrouds or linen wraps. There is no legal requirement for any container at all — a body may be buried wrapped only in a natural-fibre shroud.

A shallow burial. Natural burial grounds often use shallower graves than conventional cemeteries, which supports faster decomposition and greater soil activity.

No concrete vault or liner. Conventional cemetery graves sometimes use concrete liners to prevent ground settlement. Natural burial grounds do not.

Native planting rather than headstones. Many green burial sites in New Zealand mark graves with native trees, shrubs, or ground cover rather than stone monuments. The grave becomes part of a regenerating landscape.

Where Natural Burial Happens in New Zealand

Natural burial in New Zealand is not confined to specialised private sites. A growing number of council cemeteries have established dedicated green burial sections, which are managed according to natural burial principles and are open to the general public.

These sections operate within existing council cemeteries, which means they are subject to normal burial fees and registration processes. The difference is in how the section is managed: no artificial turf, no concrete, no synthetic materials, and planting schemes that favour native species.

Some regional councils and iwi-affiliated groups have also been involved in developing natural burial options that reflect tikanga Maori values around returning the body to the whenua (land). Burial practices that emphasise connection to the earth align naturally with these traditions.

If you are planning ahead or are in the early stages of arranging a funeral, contact the council for the district where burial will take place and ask specifically whether they have a natural or green burial section. The availability and specific rules vary significantly by region.

The Cost Difference

A conventional funeral in New Zealand typically costs between $8,000 and $15,000. That figure includes expenses that natural burial eliminates: embalming (often $400-$700 or more), a sealed hardwood casket (which can run $2,000-$5,000), burial vault, and the associated transportation and preparation costs that follow from those choices.

Natural burial can reduce the total cost of a funeral significantly. The burial fee at a council cemetery green section is generally the same as for a conventional burial in that cemetery. The savings come from the choices made about preparation and container.

Financial assistance may also be available. Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) provides a funeral grant of up to $2,697.43 for eligible families. ACC provides a funeral grant of approximately $8,000 where a death results from an accident covered under the Accident Compensation Act. Neither grant is restricted to conventional funerals — both can be applied toward a natural burial.

For a full breakdown of your legal rights during funeral planning — including what funeral directors are and are not permitted to require — the New Zealand Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide covers the relevant legislation and how it applies to the decisions families face.

Shroud Burial

Shroud burial deserves specific mention because it is the simplest and most minimal form of natural burial, and it is fully legal in New Zealand.

A shroud is typically a large piece of natural-fibre cloth — linen or wool are common — in which the body is wrapped for burial. No casket is used. The wrapped body is lowered directly into the grave.

Some families choose this for environmental reasons. Others choose it because it reflects their cultural or religious traditions. Others choose it because it is the least expensive option available.

The practical constraints are worth understanding. Not all council cemeteries will permit shroud burial even if they permit natural burial generally — policies vary and should be confirmed in advance. Some natural burial sections specifically accommodate shroud burial; others require at minimum a biodegradable container that provides structural support for transport and lowering.

If shroud burial is important to you, confirm the specific cemetery's policy before making any bookings. Some funeral homes have limited experience with shroud burials and may require additional lead time or impose additional fees for non-standard services.

Biodegradable Caskets and Containers

For families who want a container but not a conventional casket, options include:

• Willow or seagrass wicker coffins — woven baskets in a coffin shape, fully biodegradable
• Cardboard coffins — plain or decorated, structurally sound and widely available through funeral directors
• Untreated timber coffins — pine or similar, without varnish, lacquer, or metal hardware
• Wool or linen shroud wraps — as described above

All of these decompose in the soil over time. None contain plastics, synthetic fibres, or chemical treatments that would impede decomposition or leach contaminants.

Funeral directors are required to offer a range of options. If you ask about biodegradable caskets and are told they are not available, contact another funeral home. The market for these products in New Zealand is well-established.

Planning a Natural Burial

If you are arranging a natural burial now, the practical steps are:

1. Confirm the burial location — identify which council cemetery sections or natural burial grounds are available in the relevant district.
2. Confirm the specific policies — what containers are accepted, whether shroud burial is permitted, what planting or marker options exist.
3. Notify the funeral director of your choices upfront — embalming is optional and you are not required to accept it.
4. Source the container — your funeral director can supply a biodegradable casket, or you may in some cases source one independently.
5. Check financial assistance eligibility — WINZ and ACC grants are worth confirming early.
6. Register the death and obtain the required burial permit — this follows the standard process regardless of burial type.

If you encounter a funeral director who implies that your choices are not legally permitted, or who adds undisclosed charges for natural burial options, the Consumer Protection arm of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment handles complaints under the Fair Trading Act.

The New Zealand Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide covers the specific rights you hold as a consumer dealing with funeral service providers, including how to dispute charges and what constitutes misleading conduct under current law.

Natural burial is not unusual, not complicated, and not legally restricted in New Zealand. The barrier, for most families, is simply knowing that the option exists and understanding that they are entitled to choose it.

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