Cemetery competing with housing for land

The largest cemetery in New Zealand is looking for future land expansion options, but could face competition from the hot west Auckland housing market.

Waikumete Cemetery, in Glen Eden, is set to experience a shortage of plots in the next eight years.

According to Auckland Council, fewer than 1800 plots remain in the city’s west.

Auckland Council’s manager of Auckland cemeteries, Catherine Moore, said a decision will be made by mid-year about how to expand the cemetery.

“We are looking to develop existing areas first before we try and acquire more land, but we should have a better idea by the middle of the year of how to move forward,” said Ms Moore.

Gradual use of up to 18 hectares of the surrounding land may be an option, however the Waikumete Cemetery Reserve Management Plan recommends the protection of land with high ecological values, according a report attached to an Auckland Council media release on March 10.

However, if the decision is made to acquire more land for the cemetery, it may be difficult due to strong demand for housing in the area.

David Armstrong, branch manager of the Glen Eden Barfoot & Thompson real estate office, said there is very little land for sale currently in the area surrounding Waikumete Cemetery.

“A few years ago, sections used to sit around for ages and there wasn’t really much value in the sections, but now people are quite keen to buy in the area,” said Mr Armstrong.

The average house price in west Auckland in February was $716,661, according to Barfoot & Thompson’s market reports.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand PR and communications manager Taryn Welch confirmed the five roads surrounding Waikumete Cemetery - Glenorchy Street, Glenview Road, Meilland Place, Sarona Avenue and Waikumete Road - have had 30 sales from March 2014 to February 2016.