Located within its boundaries Stratford has seven cemeteries of which five are now closed and two are still operating:
Council holds all historic records for Council administered cemeteries, both open and closed, and information is available upon request.
The Council office is open 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Pedestrian access to cemeteries is permitted at any time throughout the year.
For further information refer to Bylaws, Chapter 12 - Cemeteries
OPERATING CEMETERIES
KOPUATAMA CEMETERY (4.0 kilometres east of Stratford located on State Highway 43). Pedestrian access at all times.Mobility card holders can request a gate key from the Information Centre or Stratford District Council Service Centre, if they require vehicular access to this cemetery.
This cemetery is the current operating cemetery for the Stratford District with the first burial being recorded in July 1906.
It became a lawn cemetery in the 1950’s.
Returned Services Area
There are two services areas in Kopuatama Cemetery. The original Soldiers Block is just inside the main gate, and is no longer available for interments. The new Returned Services area is located at the far end of the cemetery, in a direct line from the main gate. It is available to those who have returned from active service. These areas are administered on behalf of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs.
For information on rules and eligibility, contact your local Returned Services Association (RSA).
Memorial Garden
In 2002, Central Taranaki Rural Women completed a Memorial Garden in Kopuatama Cemetery. The garden was started as a Millennium Project, and is a peaceful spot where people can sit and contemplate, scatter ashes or pick a flower or two for a loved one’s grave.
MIDHIRST CEMETERY (Beaconsfield Road, Midhirst – 5km north of Stratford). Pedestrian access only at all times.
This cemetery is the current operating cemetery for the Midhirst District with the first burial being recorded in September 1934. It is located next to the Old Midhirst Cemetery which is closed.
CLOSED CEMETERIES
WAIPUKU CEMETERY (State Highway 3 – 9.7kms north of Stratford). Pedestrian access by permission of the land owner only.The first recorded burial was in May 1898 and the last was in September 1924.
Following a generous donation from a direct descendant of Richard and Isabella Raynor a memorial headstone has been erected at the Pioneer Cemetery on Regan Street, Stratford, listing the names of those interred at the Waipuku Cemetery.
MIDHIRST OLD CEMETERY (Beaconsfield Road, 5km north of Stratford). Pedestrian access only at all times.For some years, from 1880, Midhirst provided the only cemetery in the district.
The first confirmed burial was in December 1882. The cemetery was officially closed in 1995.
This was Stratford’s first public cemetery and was opened in 1886.
The last recorded burial was in July 1910. Once closed it was turned into a Pioneer Memorial.
Land at the back of the domain was set aside for a cemetery and trustees were chosen.
The first known interment was in September 1900 and the last interment was in January 2004, although the cemetery was officially closed in 1997.
The earliest recorded burial was in October 1924 with the last being January 1937.
This cemetery was officially closed in 1996.
