Water cremation (aquamation) in New Zealand: legal status and how it works

Written by Henry Smith · Reviewed by Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931) · Updated 2026-10-20 · Reviewed quarterly, when the underlying data is restated.

Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.

Water cremation, also called aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis, is a flame-free alternative to cremation. Instead of fire, it uses a combination of water, gentle heat and natural alkaline compounds (FDANZ: Burial or cremation). New Zealand's first water crematorium opened in Christchurch in 2025, but the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 only permits burial or flame cremation, so water cremation is not regulated by national law and councils decide locally.

What water cremation is

Water cremation is a flame-free method of cremation that uses water, gentle heat and alkaline compounds. FDANZ, the funeral directors' association, describes it as a flame-free option that uses less energy than flame cremation, and says the remains can be kept, scattered or interred like ashes. In this guide we use "water cremation", the term families search for, and "aquamation" and "alkaline hydrolysis" mean the same process.

This page is about people. We did not source pet services, so we do not discuss them.

Is it legal in New Zealand?

The honest answer is that it sits in a gap. The Burial and Cremation Act 1964 defines cremation as the reduction to ashes of dead bodies by burning (Burial and Cremation Act 1964, version as at 4 September 2026). FDANZ's 2026 industry report reads the Act as permitting only burial or flame cremation, and concludes that water cremation "is unregulated by the law in New Zealand". It says this leaves local government to decide whether to allow it in their areas (FDANZ 2026 Industry Trends Report, page 28).

The Act is administered by the Ministry of Health, and FDANZ says progress on implementing the changes a 2015 Law Commission review recommended remains "glacial" in its words. That means the rules could change. We are not aware of a published national approval process, and we did not find a source for the "discharge consent" requirements some websites mention, so we do not state any.

Where is it available?

Christchurch. FDANZ says water cremation "is currently available in Christchurch", and its report says Christchurch City Council authorised the first facility.
Hamilton and Auckland. FDANZ says it understands facilities are pending. Pending is not open; check with a funeral director before you plan around one.
Elsewhere. FDANZ's page says availability in other regions is expected to evolve. We found no source naming other facilities.

Because the facility is in Christchurch, families in other regions may need to arrange transport of the body. Ask a funeral director what that adds; we have no sourced figure.

What it costs

We found no published consumer price for water cremation in New Zealand, so we do not print one. Figures quoted for it online without a named provider and date should be treated with caution. Our cost page, water cremation cost, tracks what can be verified. For comparison, FDANZ's 2026 report puts an unattended flame cremation at an average of $4,700 and a full funeral with cremation, in its stated scenario, at an average of $11,700; see direct cremation and cremation costs.

Work and Income counts "cremation fees (including water cremation)" as a reasonable funeral expense when it assesses a Funeral Grant, so the method itself is not a barrier on that point (Work and Income: Essential funeral expenses). Whether you get a grant still depends on the income and asset tests.

Water cremation compared with other choices

	Flame cremation	Water cremation	Burial
Method	Burning, as the 1964 Act defines it	Water, gentle heat and natural alkaline compounds	Interment in a cemetery or other lawful place
Covered by the 1964 Act	Yes	Not mentioned; FDANZ says unregulated	Yes
Availability	Nationwide	Christchurch (FDANZ)	Nationwide
Energy use	Not stated by our sources	Less than flame cremation (FDANZ)	Not applicable
Remains	Ashes	Can be kept, scattered or interred like ashes (FDANZ)	Body

Our sources give no figures on emissions, so we make no environmental comparison beyond FDANZ's statement on energy. If you prefer a lower-impact burial, see natural burial.

Questions to ask before you choose

Is the facility operating now, and who runs it?
What is the total price in writing, and what does it include?
How is the body transported, and who arranges the paperwork?
How long until the remains are returned?
What does the provider do with the water used in the process? We found no New Zealand source on this, so ask directly.
Does the family's faith or community accept this method? Ask your faith leader or whānau before deciding.

Planning ahead

Because no consumer price for water cremation is published, any plan to pay for it in advance starts with a written quote from the provider. For people comparing ways to set money aside for a funeral of any kind, the funeral insurance hub lists the providers side by side, and funeral costs in New Zealand gives the sourced ranges. Momentum Life Limited's Funeral Insurance pays a chosen fixed benefit of $3,000 to $30,000 to New Zealanders aged 40 to 75 who take it out. In its first 24 months it pays only for accidental death, with premiums refunded for any other death. The total premiums can end up larger than the benefit, and the benefit may not cover the whole funeral. Momentum's A.M. Best rating is B (Fair); see its financial strength page. The buttons on this page lead to Momentum's own quote.

If you are planning ahead for your own funeral costs

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Life cover: Conditions you already have aren't covered for the first 2 years (premiums refunded instead). Suicide isn't covered for the first 2 years, and a few conditions can be excluded permanently.

Funeral cover: Only accidental death is covered for the first 2 years. Total premiums can add up to more than the cover, and it may not meet the whole cost of a funeral.

Insurer: Momentum Life Limited. Financial strength rating B (Fair) from AM Best, affirmed 11 February 2026; B ratings sit in AM Best's 'vulnerable' range. The rating scale is available for inspection at every Momentum Life office in New Zealand. What this means

Already have cover? Keep it. New cover won't pay for a condition you already have in its first 2 years.

Opens Momentum Life's online application; its guidance only covers eligibility. QuoteHub is a Momentum Life partner. Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver may receive a commission if you buy. General information, not advice.

Adviser's view

Water cremation is a real option in New Zealand, but it is new and unevenly available: the only facility we can source is in Christchurch, opened in 2025. It is not regulated by national law, so councils decide locally. We found no published consumer price, so ask for a written quote before you commit.

Henry Smith, Financial Adviser (FSP1010699). General information, not personalised financial advice.

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Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Water Cremation NZ: Is It Legal and How It Works. www.quotehub.co.nz/guides/when-someone-dies/water-cremation-nz. Updated 2026-10-20.