North Shore City Council

The first phase of a $2 million redevelopment of the North Shore Memorial Park cemetery and crematorium is nearing completion.

The upgrade of the crematorium has this year included the installation of a new cremator and extensive renovations to the building and facilities.

Chairperson of North Shore City Council’s community services and parks committee, Councillor Margaret Miles, says the crematorium is now the most modern of its type in the country, as well as the busiest.

Its chapel, the largest in Auckland, is now equipped with a new sound system and closed circuit television providing a video record of services.

A start has also been made on the expansion and development of the northern area of the memorial park. This will see a tree-lined memorial avenue created, and the development of a wetlands area around the existing sediment ponds and a coastal walkway along the Lucas Creek.

Earthworks and roading improvements are continuing, to be followed by planting and landscaping. Once finished, the newly developed area of the park will extend the life of the cemetery by up to 30 years, says Cllr Miles.

The landscape design for the extension is closely following the original concept plan for the memorial park.

The crematorium will have a second cremator installed later this year, and other improvements will include the provision of additional car-parking.

The Memorial Park last year became the first such facility to be awarded ISO certification for quality management.

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