Memorial options at
the Canterbury Memorial Gardens
We offer a wide range of beautiful memorial options for all styles and budgets. You can personalise memorials in many ways, adding illustration, a photograph, or a meaningful inscription. Please ask our team for details.
Some of the older areas of the gardens are almost full. However, if your family has a historic connection to the Canterbury Memorial Gardens, please talk to us about tailoring a memorial for you, so you can rest with those who have gone before.
Always a very special place to visit loved ones who have passed. The grounds are always looking a picture and the roses are looking glorious with amazing colours.
Helen Grant
Your choice of memorials
Individual Rose
Choose a standard rose in our rose gardens as an elegant memorial. We will place an inscribed granite memorial plaque in front of your rose. Ashes may be interred in the garden beneath the plaque.
Rose Memorial
Rest amidst the community rose garden beds throughout the garden. Inscribed granite plaques are placed among the flowers. Ashes may be interred in the garden beneath the plaque.
Wall Memorial
Rest above ground in a wall memorial. Inscribed plaques are placed in rows on walls. Ashes may be interred in a niche behind each plaque.
Pavilion Recumbent
Place a plaque in the Pavilion, a peaceful space to sit with your memories. These larger granite plaques offer more space to personalise your design and message. Ashes may be placed in the garden behind the plaque.
Pavilion Berm
Inscribed granite plaques are placed on memorial berms in front of shrubbery hedge. Ashes may be interred in the lawn in front of your plaque.
Garden Recumbent
Large, inscribed granite plaques are placed on the raised edging surrounding attractively planted garden. Ashes may be interred in the lawn in front of your plaque.
Memorial Library
Memorials in the shape of open books have inscribed plaques attached to the face of the page. Ashes may be interred in the lawn with each book.
Shrubbery Garden
Inscribed granite plaques are placed in a delightful informal garden setting of shrubbery and rockery community gardens. Ashes may be interred in the garden beneath each plaque.
Raised Shrubbery
Inscribed granite plaques are placed on the raised edging surrounding shrubbery gardens. Ashes may be interred in the garden behind each plaque.
Family Monument
This upright monument has space for up to eight individual inscriptions. Choose from different granite styles to personalise your family’s memorial. Ashes may be interred in the garden with each monument.
Family Plot
Dedicate an individual garden plot to your family. With space for up to eight individual interments, your granite monument offers space to personalise your design and message. Ashes may be interred in the garden plot.
Engraved Brick Paver
Pavers inscribed with your loved one’s details are placed in a dedicated area bordering lawn. Ideal for those who wish to scatter ashes.
Scattering Lawn
Arrange to scatter your loved one’s ashes on our peaceful scattering lawn surrounded by garden and trees. You may also wish to choose a memorial for your loved one.
Hand Written Memorial Book
A calligrapher will inscribe your loved one’s name and a dedication in a memorial book that can be viewed every anniversary on the date of death. The Memorial Book is displayed open to the current date and can be viewed in the Memorial Book Room at the administration building.
FAQs about memorials
We recommend making a time to meet with our friendly memorial adviser for a personal tour of our gardens. We can show you the different memorial options and talk about your vision for your loved one’s memorial.
Once you’ve decided what memorial you’d like, we can discuss your options for personalisation, and confirm pricing.
Upon receipt of payment, we’ll arrange for your loved one’s memorial to be engraved and installed. If you’d like to attend the installation of the memorial, we can arrange that with you.
Yes. We’ll show you the garden settings and mark the position you select. When you choose a site, you may wish to consider the future needs of other family members and select a spot where everyone can be close together.
The cost of a memorial depends on what type of memorial you choose and which part of the garden the memorial is placed in. We include starting prices for memorials on this page. Adding personalisation, selecting a larger plaque for your memorial may increase this cost.
When you purchase a memorial in the Canterbury Memorial Gardens, you will never be asked for another payment, unless you request a change to your memorial. Your loved one’s memorial will be maintained in perpetuity.
Yes, you can add another name to a plaque or a memorial if there is room. You need to get permission from the person who owns the memorial. You can also upgrade your memorial to a larger design. Some conditions apply.
You may personalise your loved one’s memorial plaque or monument with graphics, ceramic or lasered photographs, and personal inscriptions. We can send you a digital proof to show you how the memorial will look. Please note, some design elements depend on the size of the memorial plaque or monument chosen.
Yes you can. Rest near your loved ones, choose the words and style of your memorial, and put your affairs in order, to ensure there’s little for your family to do when the time comes.
You can plan all the details of your memorial, and pay for it at today’s prices, secure in the knowledge that you’ve made these important decisions for your family. Please see the page on pre-arranging your memorial for more information.
Yes. You can replace or upgrade an existing plaque with permission from the person who has authority over the memorial. Costs will apply.
Yes. However, you will be relinquishing their current position in the gardens and purchasing a new position at today’s prices.
Yes. Often families like to scatter ashes in a place special to their loved one. You may wish to consider scattering some of the ashes and interring a portion at their memorial. The cost of a memorial is the same whether or not you choose to inter ashes.
Unfortunately not, as it may be considered inappropriate by families who own surrounding memorials. You may inter the ashes at your family memorial or scatter them on the designated scattering lawn.
Generally, the answer is no. Your memorial reservation is a contract in perpetuity. However specific requests may be considered. A fee will apply.
No. You have a lease to occupy that position in the garden in perpetuity, and you own your plaque and your memorial, but not the land.
Unfortunately not. Our team of gardeners manage all planting and maintain the gardens.
Memorial terms & conditions
A huge thank you for preparing dad's site last week. It was such a carefree experience and a thoughtful process.
Donna
A magic place to go. All the memories of loved ones who have passed still live on.
Sue McLeod
We’re here to help
If you’ve any questions about the memorial gardens, memorials or cremation, we’re here for you. Call 03 389 6282.