Matakohe Cemetery

28/05/2026

Reopening of the Coates Memorial Church, Sunday 24 May 2026.

19/05/2026

Courtesy of a local cemetery supporter this photo almost gave us conniptions until we realised it is AI generated!!

19/05/2026

We now have three more cremation berms in the Kohekohe section. On behalf of the Trustees a grateful thanks to our community super-heros who assisted the contractors with the project. Thank you Simon Nunn for pushing the barrow, Nick Tetzner for loan of numerical stamps (to number plots) and Ralph Weber for project managing it all!

24/04/2026

Go to link to see information about reopening of Coates Memorial Church

Join us at a special Sunday service at Coates Memorial Church in Matakohe to mark its reopening following a successful restoration project.This is a public event – all are welcome to attend. General seating is limited and will be available in order of arrival. No RSVP is required for members of th...

19/02/2026

Coates Memorial Church looking stately and regal.

16/02/2026

The contractor has finished ... now for some serious cleaning!

14/02/2026

CODE OF PRACTICE excerpt

13. Adornments

13.1 It is strictly prohibited for any flora to be planted on any grave within the cemetery boundaries.
13.2 Adornments, including all wreaths and floral tributes may be placed on a grave for up to 30 days following an interment. After this time, all adornments will be removed and disposed of at the Cemetery Trust’s discretion to allow for ground levelling and
sowing of grass.
13.3 Any adornments added after this time must be confined to the provided containers set in the base of the memorial.
13.4 Adornments for the natural burial area are restricted to natural cut flowers only and no containers of any kind can be placed on or near the graves or encroach on grass areas.
13.5 Approved adornments must:
i be placed on the concrete berm of the grave and
ii must not contain glass, porcelain, or ceramic; and
iii must not inhibit the proper maintenance of the cemetery or other graves.
13.6 Breakable jars, vases or receptacles are strictly not permitted to be used as flower containers.
13.7 If in the opinion of the Sexton or an Authorised Officer, an adornment is unsightly or poses a hazard to public safety, or interferes with the maintenance of the cemetery,
any object including but not limited to:
i fences and rails
ii any glass, plastic, ceramic, or terracotta items
iii any rocks, stones, or pebbles
iv any wire or other metal-based items, or
v artificial or natural cut flowers
vi the Cemetery Trust shall be under no liability to any person in respect of such removal, destruction, or disposal of such adornments or objects.

14/02/2026

Following the strong winds experienced over the past few months, we have noticed a significant increase in grave adornments—such as artificial flowers, glass jars, plastic containers, ceramic vases, and similar items—being blown around the cemetery grounds.
These displaced items create several concerns. They hinder the work of our lawn-mowing contractor, detract from the overall appearance of the cemetery, and, most importantly, pose a safety risk to visitors, particularly where broken glass is involved.
To help maintain a safe, tidy, and respectful environment for all, we ask that you carefully consider the placement and type of adornments used on graves. Please refer to the relevant section of our Cemetery Code of Practice above, which outlines our policy regarding grave adornments, before making any decisions.
We are grateful for your understanding and cooperation in helping us care for the cemetery and all those who visit it.

03/02/2026

No scaffolding!

03/02/2026

Call for Information — Ancestors Buried at Matakohe Cemetery

We are seeking help from the community to identify and document unmarked graves at Matakohe Cemetery (Northland, New Zealand), with a particular interest in burials prior to 1955.

Over time, many headstones and wooden markers have deteriorated or disappeared, and valuable information about those resting here has been lost. The cemetery redesign that created a berm cemetery in 1948–49 contributed to further loss of information and markers.

We are especially interested in hearing from you if you have:

Family trees showing ancestors buried at Matakohe Cemetery

Historical records, burial details, old maps, or documents

Genealogical research related to early settlers of Matakohe

Oral histories or personal memories about burial locations

Photos of headstones or cemetery visits from earlier decades

Your contribution can help us:

✔ Identify unmarked graves
✔ Preserve family and community history
✔ Improve the cemetery records for future generations

If you have any information — no matter how small — please contact us via email:
Karen / Sexton - [email protected]