During your first contact with Guardian Funeral Home, our funeral director will ask whether your loved one wished to be buried or cremated.This choice determines the type of medical certificate we are legally required to obtain for the funeral arrangements.
Cremation
In New Zealand, cremation is a widely accepted alternative to burial. There are a number of crematoriums in the Wellington region. Each crematorium has different levels of facilities and costs vary; we are careful to keep you fully informed of what the standards of each crematorium are.
You may have seen the wording, ‘followed by private cremation’ in funeral notices. This refers to the time when the hearse moves off from the funeral service unaccompanied, or accompanied by family members & close friends. The choice of whether you wish to travel to the crematorium is always up to you.
For more information on selecting an urn – download our urn book
Memorial Options for Cremated Remains
Scattering Cremated Remains
If the deceased wished for their ashes to be scattered in a place of personal or family significance, arrangements can be made to fulfill this request.
Keeping Cremated Remains
Families may choose to keep ashes for a period of time, either in the original urn or transferred to a decorative container. There is a variety of urns available, including ceramic, timber, and pottery styles.
Memorial Jewellery
For those who want to keep a small portion of ashes, a lock of hair, or another meaningful keepsake close, we offer a range of memorial jewellery options. For details on styles and customization, please download our Jewellery Brochure.
Placing Ashes in an Existing Grave
Many cemeteries permit adding cremated remains to an existing family grave, subject to council and grave owner approval.
Memorial Gardens
Cemeteries often have dedicated memorial gardens, such as rose gardens, native shrub areas, or wall niches where ashes can be placed. An inscribed plaque marks the spot, providing a lasting tribute. These memorial options can be arranged through your preferred cemetery. To learn more, you may download our ashes placement guide for the Wellington area.