Auckland Council has entered into an agreement to purchase 6.5 hectares of land beside an existing private cemetery in Kumeū as a future site for cemetery operations to serve the growing northwest communities of Tāmaki Makaurau.
The site to be developed over the coming years is located at 870 Waitākere Road near the growing township of Kumeū.
This purchase follows the council’s ongoing search for suitable cemetery land as some cemeteries approach burial capacity. The property has been selected for its location and physical characteristics, and will augment Auckland’s extensive cemetery network.
Auckland Council’s General Manager for Parks and Community Facilities, Taryn Crewe is pleased to secure this important purchase, ahead of final settlement in March 2026.
“Our cemeteries provide such an important service, and this new site for northwest Auckland, beside an existing cemetery, will cater for the needs of this community for many years to come,” says Mrs Crewe.
Rodney Local Board Chair Guy Wishart is also positive about the purchase and what it will mean for communities in the northwest of Auckland.
“This is extremely pleasing for our local board and the people of Rodney – we look forward to working closely with all our stakeholders including mana whenua on the design for this site,” adds Mr Wishart.
The council has been in communication with Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngā Maunga Whakahii in this process. The council will also carry out wider stakeholder liaison through the consenting and design phases for the site.
Planning toward the future use of the Kumeū site will begin early in 2026.
Auckland’s cemetery network
Auckland Council’s cemetery network is extensive. We own and operate 53 cemeteries across the region, covering approximately 300 hectares.
There are three main large cemeteries, we call “hub cemeteries”: These are Manukau Memorial Gardens, North Shore Memorial Park and Waikumete Cemetery.
The three hub cemeteries are among the 30 operational cemeteries across the region and are also home to the three council-operated crematoria in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Eighty per cent of council-administered burials in the region are carried out across the three hub cemeteries. The other burials are delivered across the 27 other cemeteries.
Each year, Auckland Council carries out approximately: 1500 burials, 1000 ash burials and 2400 cremations. As well as this we host around 800 chapel services and 450 lounge hires.
We have a team of 40 staff based across these three sites, including customer service representatives, sextons and managers.
