Otaki TodayŌtaki residents are in the fortunate position of having cemetery capacity for decades to come, even as Kāpiti Coast District Council looks for a new district-wide burial site.
The council has begun assessing land on the Kāpiti Coast to identify a suitable location for a future cemetery, after studies showed growing pressure on existing sites throughout the district. Waikanae Cemetery is expected to reach capacity within the next few years, increasing demand on other areas.
Ōtaki Cemetery, which has capacity for interments for decades to come. Photo Ōtaki Today
However, Ōtaki is in a far stronger position. It has the largest remaining capacity in the district and is expected to meet both ash and full-body interment needs for “a number of decades”, says council parks, open space and environment manager Gareth Eloff.
He ways the proposed new site is not intended to replace local cemeteries, but to complement them.
“We are looking for enough land – about seven to 10 hectares – to provide the Kāpiti district with 50 years of future cemetery capacity across the network,” he says. “This would be a district-wide cemetery, so as our other local cemeteries reach capacity, we have an alternative for people to inter their loved ones.”
The move would not mean existing public cemeteries, such as that in Ōtaki, would stop being used or expanded.
“The assessment will look at all land within the district, including land surrounding existing cemeteries. In most cases where cemeteries are not yet at capacity, we will continue optimising the use of remaining land within existing footprints.”
Gareth says the high cost and complexity of acquiring and developing cemetery land is a key reason for taking a district-wide approach, rather than repeatedly expanding or establishing smaller sites over time.
While Ōtaki’s outlook is positive, Gareth cautions that projections are based on current trends and could change. Factors such as population growth, burial preferences and demand from outside the district all influence how long capacity will last.
“Any fundamental changes in any of these variables, or a catastrophic event within the region, would considerably diminish the remaining capacity.” he says.
The site assessment process for the new Kāpiti cemetery will continue through this year, with a report expected in early 2027 to guide the next steps.
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