Support for the Establishment of a Services Cemetery
Introduction
Services Cemeteries are legislated for under Section 15 of the Burial and Cremation Act 1964.
When a cemetery authority decides that there is a need for a Services Cemetery in their area they can make land available for the exclusive right of burial for persons who have been on operational service in Her Majesty’≥ Forces and their spouses/partners. Once this decision has been made the cemetery authority can make application to Veterans' Affairs New Zealand for funding to support the establishment and ongoing maintenance and development of the Services Cemetery.
The criteria for eligibility for interment in a Services Cemetery is service in a war, armed conflict, peacekeeping force, or other operation, specified as operational service by the Minister of Internal Affairs, in consultation with the Minister of Defence and the Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association (Incorporated) (see VANZ Informati0on Sheet MC1/02).
Entitlements
Maintenance Grant
The maintenance grant is a contribution to the maintenance of the Services Cemetery; it is not designed to cover all of the costs. There is a maximum amount of funding available for maintenance grants. These amounts are based on the area taken up by the Services Cemetery and cannot be exceeded. These amounts are reviewed regularly.
Capital Works
A contribution to development and set up costs would be guaranteed in the first two years of operation, after that the local authority would need to request additional capital funding from Veterans’†Affairs New Zealand’≥ yearly capital works programme.
Cemetery Authorities can make application for inclusion in this programme. All requests for capital works such as landscaping and development work are also considered, but priority is given to the provision of new berms.
Process
A cemetery authority makes a decision to allocate land for the establishment of a Services Cemetery. The cemetery authority approaches Veterans' Affairs New Zealand to have this cemetery recognised for the purposes of funding for development and on-going maintenance.
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand sends an application form to the local authority requesting information on the proposed Services Cemetery.
Once this information has been received Veterans' Affairs New Zealand will arrange a site visit to look at the site and discuss the proposal with the local authority and local veterans groups.
Once this visit is completed an analysis of the application will be made and a recommendation made to the Director Veterans' Affairs.
If the application is successful and the proposed Services Cemetery is recognised for purposes of funding for development and on-going maintenance then Veterans' Affairs New Zealand will:
- let an installation contract for the installation of plaques and, or headstones in the new Services Cemetery;
- arrange for the payment of the maintenance grant;
- arrange for the payment of agreed development costs; and
- include the new Services Cemetery in liaison visits.
Contact Details
Enquires relating to the application for recognition of a Services Cemetery should be made to:
Ray Marshall
Supervisor Services Cemeteries
Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
PO Box 5146
Wellington
Telephone tollfree: 0800 483 8372
Fax: 04 495 2080
Direct: 04 495 2077 E-mail: ray.marshall@nzdf.mil.nz