Council is exploring other burial and land options as the country's largest cemetery, Waikumete, is running out of room.
New Zealand's multi-cultural society is putting pressure on our final resting places. The council said there's plenty of space for burials in the north and south of Auckland, but western areas are running out of space as Waikumete fills up. There's also no area within the cemetery that would allow for development of additional burial plots.
"Waikumete Cemetery is of historical, cultural and ecological significance and we're at a point where development for new burial areas is challenging," councillor Penny Hulse said in a statement. Shelley Angus from Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective told cremation is not always an option for some cultures. "We are seeing a little bit of a change in that, in terms of the cultural diversity, but then there are some certain religions and cultures that are quite stoic in their beliefs, we have to adhere to that." Waikumete only has around five years left of burial space, and Ms Angus said countries outside New Zealand take a different approach to burials. "You [can] have a body burial plot that can be dug up within 10 years and then put in catacombs. I'm not sure that we're at that point in New Zealand where we need to consider that." But she does believe communities need to start having conversations about their options down the line. "Each community needs to get together with their local authority and discuss what they think is the best way to go. Some areas are more affluent than others so that will determine how things go."
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Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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35.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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64.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: Is Auckland’s economy improving?
The latest reporting from The Post suggests a wave of optimism for 2026. With interest rates finally heading south, businesses are feeling more positive. But for many on the ground, the real-world recovery feels a bit like a slow-moving commute on Auckland's motorways.
We want to know: Are you seeing signs of Auckland's economy improving in your industry or neighbourhood? Whether it's busier shops, new projects kicking off, or just a shift in the mood ...
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17.2% Yes
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65.6% No
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17.2% A little
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