Sea Burials
The sea plays a special role in many people’s lives and for some people, the preference is for a sea burial. This is a legal method of burial in New Zealand.
What happens at a sea burial?
If your loved one has requested a sea burial, there are a few rules and requirements that need to be followed:
- A sea burial must take place more than 12 nautical miles offshore at one of five authorised places, in waters deeper than 500 meters
- At least three days before the burial, the person responsible for the burial must send the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) a copy of the Medical Certificate Cause of Death (or coroner’s authorisation) and a proposal outlining where and how the burial will take place
- If your proposal meets the requirements, the EPA will issue a ‘Certificate of Compliance’ to allow the burial to happen. If the proposal doesn’t meet the rules, there may be delays in getting approval while the EPA requests more information from you
- The EPA will notify every affected iwi, hapū, customary marine title group, and protected customary rights group about the planned date and location of the burial
- The sea burial must follow your approved proposal
- Within 10 working days of the burial, the person responsible for the burial must send evidence to the EPA that the burial took place at the agreed location, and that the casket or container remained in one piece when it entered the sea, and sank to the sea floor and did not resurface
Legal requirements of planning a sea burial
At least three days before the burial, the person responsible for the burial must send the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) a copy of the Medical Certificate Cause of Death (or coroner’s authorisation) and a proposal outlining where and how the burial will take place.
A guide to sea burials
To find out more, download the Environmental Protection Authority Te Mana Rauhī Raiao’s guide to burials at sea in New Zealand.