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As Napier’s newest cemetery, its highest crest offers the resting extensive views of farmland and Napier suburbs. Various types of plot are available, allowing for a base, plinth or granite headstone. Ash internments are also available in the Western Hills Cemetery.
Gates open at 8:00am and close at sunset. Toilets open from 8:00am until sunset.
This is Napier's newest cemetery, opened in 1985. The northern crest, topped by a trig point, offers extensive views of farmland and the suburbs of Napier. Before the earthquake of 3 February, 1931, this low-lying expanse was covered by the waters and mudflats of the great Ahuriri Lagoon.
The cemetery's sweeping lawns were formerly orchards, paddocks and vegetable gardens.
The most recent addition to the cemetery is the SANDS (Still and Newborn Death Support) Memorial, which faces out towards the lagoon.
Western Hills Cemetery records have been audited and are now available in our online database. You can search all the records that we have and find, interment details, headstone inscriptions, headstone photo and a location map. Search Western Hills cemetery records.
This area allows for a limited size granite headstone to be placed on the concrete beam which is level with the lawn.
All headstones are erected on a white plastered concrete or granite base, on the concrete beam. Only one headstone per plot is permitted.
Base
Plinth
Headstone
One plaque per plot is allowed.
Children aged 14 and under may be buried in the Children's Lawn Cemetery areas set aside in the Western Hills Cemetery. The plot purchase price and interment fees are lower than for standard plots.
Base: 915mm x 450mm (maximum height 150mm)
Plinth: Granite
915mm x 250mm x maximum height 100mm
Headstone: Up to 900mm wide x 900mm high
Council provides a concrete beam set flush with the turf. A limited size headstone on a plastered concrete base may be erected on the beam.
Special areas are set aside for stillborn and neonatal burials. Neonatal infants are those babies who have died within 28 days of birth. Stillborn and neonatal plots in these areas are provided free of charge.
A stillborn and neonatal area is on the western spur close to the SANDS Memorial Area. Provision has been made here for placing a granite (only) plaque on a concrete kerb. There is no provision for headstones.
Plaque: 205mm x 125mm x 20mm thick with polished edges
Stillborn and neonatal babies may be buried in other sections of the cemetery, where plot purchase fees apply.
Rose Gardens
These allow for one plaque to be placed on the raised concrete kerb surrounding each rose bed.
Plaque
(i) Either "A" (beds 1-14)
Granite plaques: 150mm x 80mm in the following colours - grey, blue, green and black - or
Bronze plaques: 150mm x 80mm
a) engraved
b) cast
(ii) Or "B" (beds 15 onward)
Granite plaques: 205mm x 125mm in grey, blue and black, 20mm thick with polished edges
Upright Cremation Area (no plaque)
Base, plinth and headstone: granite
Single Plot
Base 650mm x 350mm, maximum height 100mm
Plinth maximum 650mm x 230mm, maximum height 75mm
Headstone maximum 600mm wide, maximum 550mm above base/plinth
Ash Interment in a Burial Plot
Ashes may be interred in an existing burial plot within any Napier cemetery. Special conditions may apply to the Returned Services cemeteries.
New Zealand Native Plant Area
Planted with New Zealand native trees and shrubs, this grove provides an area for scattering ashes and for sheltered walking.
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