Auckland Council has purchased 100 hectares of land near Karaka in rural South Auckland as a future site for cemetery operations to serve south Auckland communities for decades to come.
The site consists of two adjacent properties at Linwood Road and Biddick Road at Te Hihi, purchased for $16 million with settlement in October 2026.
This purchase follows the council’s lengthy and ongoing search for suitable cemetery land as south Auckland cemeteries approach their burial capacity. The property has been selected for its location and physical characteristics, and will augment Auckland’s extensive cemetery network.
Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker says this land purchase is timely and much needed for the area.
“South Auckland requires more cemetery capacity to meet the needs of this fast-growing part of the region.
“Finding a suitable location was a challenging and lengthy process.
“The land meets the criteria for a cemetery and this is a sensible and timely acquisition by the council with appropriate cemetery land in Auckland being hard to find.”
The council has engaged with Ngāti Tamaoho including Whātāpaka Marae, Ngāti Te Ata and Te Ākitai Waiohua in this process, each providing a lens of cultural input.
We acknowledge that Ngati Tamaoho and Whātāpaka Marae objected to the purchase of this land for a cemetery, for cultural reasons.
Auckland Council acknowledges the feedback received and remains committed to working with Ngāti Tamaoho and other mana whenua throughout the development planning process. While differing views remain, the council is committed to engaging openly, respectfully, and constructively to address concerns where possible.
We value our relationship with mana whenua and will continue to work closely with them throughout the planning, development, and establishment of the cemetery.
The Franklin Local Board was consulted during the due diligence process and, while recognising the need for additional cemetery capacity in South Auckland, did not support acquisition of the site. The board raised concerns relating to land use, rural amenity, traffic and road safety, proximity to Te Hihi School, and alternative site options. The council will continue to consider these matters through future planning, design and statutory approval processes.
Planning towards the future use of the site will begin later this year says Taryn Crewe, General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities. This will involve a process of wider stakeholder liaison through the consenting and design phases ahead of developing the site.
“Securing the land has been the first step,” says Mrs Crewe. “The development of a cemetery site of this scale will be a multi-year process and it is likely to be some time before it is fully operational. The staged development will span decades similar to how we have developed our other three hub cemeteries.
“We have signalled that our development process will include significant opportunities for our stakeholders and community to provide input. What’s really important is that we’ve secured a large piece of land that gives lots of scope for creating a very special place of remembrance for many, many decades to come.”
Mrs Crewe notes this is, unusually, the council’s second land purchase for a cemetery within one year.
“The land acquisition at Te Hihi is the first step in putting in place a new cemetery that will help meet long-term demand for the South Auckland community.”
“It comes only months after the council secured new land in Kumeū to build an additional cemetery in the northwest as Waikumete Cemetery gets closer to reaching its capacity,” she says.
Auckland’s cemetery network
Auckland Council’s cemetery network is extensive. The council owns and operates 53 cemeteries across the region, covering approximately 300 hectares.
There are three main cemeteries, known as “hub cemeteries” at 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. Around two thirds of our annual burials are in the south.
A council team of 40 staff are based across the three sites, including customer service representatives, sextons and managers.