The process of cremation is gaining strength every year. The long years of advocacy by leading men in every sphere bears fruit to the growing conviction that cremation must prevail as the method of disposal for social well-being.
Leaders of the Christian Church see in it a higher spiritual ideal; others see the Cremation process as a symbol, lifting the mind above morbid thoughts of the material body.
Cremation is beneficial to the health of the community and the solution to the problems of overcrowded cemeteries, land which could be used for healthy uses of the public.
Every funeral director understands the procedure and can at once carry out instructions. They can also immediately confirm the fact that cremation is less costly than earth burial.
All ceremonies are carried out under an Act of Parliament and in conjunction with regulations made under the Act.
The actual process of cremation is simple and usually takes about an hour to complete. Although cremation can usually be carried out after the service on the same day, it is dependent upon meeting legal requirement of issue of medical certificates by a doctor and a "Permission to Cremate" certificate authorised by a medical referee. The result of cremation is a fine ash or dust, the same as that achieved after approximately 40 to 50 years in an earth grave. The method is complete, economical and is also hygienic and reverent. Ashes may be interred in a Memorial, conserved in an urn or taken for final disposal at a location of your choosing.
Harewood Crematorium facilities are located in a fresh, clean, hygienic area situated behind the chapel. The Cremator was upgraded in 2008, is fully computerized and was made under licence in Australia to meet the most stringent emission standards anywhere in the world. Harewood Crematorium selected this model with the knowledge that is exceeds all emission requirements for New Zealand in an effort to promotes a cleaner environment for Christchurch and to remain ahead of technology.
