A place to remember
Choosing a lasting tribute for someone you love
In New Zealand there is a wide range of options, from traditional upright headstones to simple plaques, and the right choice depends on your family's wishes, whether your loved one was buried or cremated, and the rules of the cemetery.
Traditional headstones
An upright headstone is the most familiar form of memorial and remains a popular choice for burials. Granite is the material endorsed by the Association because it is extremely durable and will stand the test of time.
Headstones can be polished or textured, in a range of colours and shapes, and are inscribed with the name, dates and a personal message.
They are usually erected on a cemetery beam or foundation and installed to comply with the New Zealand Standard 4242:2018.
Cremation Memorials
Many New Zealanders now choose cremation, and there are a number of ways to create a lasting tribute. Depending on local council regulations, a cremation memorial may be a small upright headstone or a flat plaque, and ashes may be interred in a dedicated cremation berm or beam within the cemetery.
Your local NZMMMA member can explain what is permitted at your chosen cemetery.
Plaques
Plaques are a simple, dignified option and are often required in lawn cemeteries and for ash interments. Granite, bronze and ceramic plaques are available.
Each has its own look and benefits, and your local member can talk you through them so you can choose what best suits your loved one and the setting
Personalised and custom memorials
Advances in cutting and design techniques mean memorials are more personal than ever. A memorial can reflect a person's hobbies, sporting interests, work or a favourite scene from nature. Inscriptions can include poetry, a prayer or a loving tribute, and a photo image can even be etched into the granite.
If you have something unique in mind, your monumental mason will work with you to bring it to life.
Restoration, additional inscriptions and maintenance
A memorial is a lasting tribute, but it still needs care. Your monumental mason can add new inscriptions to an existing memorial, clean and maintain it, and restore older headstones and graves.
Several members specialise in repairing time-worn memorials, including those with traditional inscriptions such as beaten lead lettering.
War memorials
There are approx. 3,500 Commonwealth war graves commemorating men and women who died during the First and Second World Wars. The monuments are located across New Zealand local cemeteries, churchyards, and Māori urupā and are managed by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage acting as an agent for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Find out more through the Ministry of Culture and Heritage website:
Community and commemorative monuments
Monumental masonry is not limited to the cemetery. Stone memorials stand at the heart of towns across New Zealand, including cenotaphs, war memorials, statues and commemorative plaques that honour our shared history and the people who shaped it. The skills used to create and care for these monuments are the same skills our members bring to every family memorial.
Cemetery regulations and by-laws vary from place to place, so the options open to you will depend on where your loved one is laid to rest. Your local NZMMMA member knows the requirements for your local cemetery and will guide you through the choices. Use the membership directory to find a member near you.
Pre-purchased Memorials
If you would like to plan ahead, our Pre-Purchase Memorial Plans lets you choose and pre-purchase a memorial for yourself or a family member. You can select your own design and ease the financial and emotional burden on your family at a difficult time. Funds are held in a trust account until the memorial is required.
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