Cemeteries bylaw hearings complete
Cemeteries bylaw hearings complete
Deliberations on
Auckland Council’s proposed Cemeteries and Crematoria
Bylaw and Code of Practice, are now complete and are
expected to be adopted later this month.
The chair of the bylaw hearings panel, Cr Calum Penrose, says council recognises that the end of life care of a loved one is a very personal for people, both spiritually and culturally.
“The recommendations we have made will ensure that our staff can continue to respond to the needs of Auckland’s diverse communities with respect,” says Mr Penrose.
“I would also like to make the point that it was never our intention to charge or expect people to get permission for the scattering of ashes in public places. However, the discussion has highlighted variety of cultural beliefs and the need for greater education on this.”
Among the recommendations made today were:
• Giving
cemetery managers discretion on how many people can witness
the cremation, balanced with meeting the wishes of family
and friends and maintaining a safe
environment
•
• Continuing to support family and
friends’ desire to be able to fill their loved ones’
grave, but ask that they give cemetery staff notice so that
provision can be made, including having equipment
available
•
• That floral tributes and adornments
on graves will be moved to the concrete beam to allow grave
maintenance to be carried out.
•
The panel’s
recommendations will be considered by the Governing Body
later this month before adopting the new bylaw and code of
practice, which will come in to effect from 1 November
2014.
ENDS