A History of Headstones in New Zealand: From Hand-Carved Memorials to Modern Granite

History of Headstones and Memorials in New Zealand

Headstones and memorials in New Zealand have evolved significantly since European settlement in the early 1800s. Initially, grave markers were simple wooden crosses or stone slabs, often carved by hand. As communities grew and cemeteries became formalized, more elaborate memorials emerged, reflecting Victorian and Edwardian influences. These often included religious symbolism, statues, and ornate inscriptions, as seen in the memorial for the Moutoa Memorial and many others across our older cemeteries.

Māori burial traditions historically focused more on natural markers and spiritual practices, though modern Māori memorials often blend traditional and Western elements.

 

Materials Used in the 1800s and Early 1900s

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, headstones in New Zealand were typically made from:

  • Oamaru stone – a soft, creamy limestone quarried locally, popular for its ease of carving.

  • Marble – imported and used for more prestigious memorials, valued for its elegance.

  • Sandstone and granite – used for durability, though granite was harder to carve by hand.

  • Cast iron fencing – often surrounded family plots, as seen in the image.

These materials allowed for intricate craftsmanship, including statues, floral motifs, and religious iconography.


 

Cost of Intricate Headstones (1800s–Early 1900s)

The headstone in the image, featuring a carved statue, cross, and detailed inscriptions, would have been considered a high-end memorial in its time. Estimated costs in the late 1800s:

  • Basic headstone: £5–£10

  • Intricate memorials with statues and fencing: £50–£100 or more

Adjusted for inflation, this equates to approximately NZD $9,000–$18,000 in today’s terms, depending on the level of detail and imported materials.

 

Source: Salatielu Memorial LifeStone New Zealand.

Modern Headstones in New Zealand

Today, most headstones are made from imported granite and marble chosen for durability, low maintenance, and polished finish. Common features include laser-etched designs, ceramic photos, and gold leaf lettering with LifeStone New Zealand Pioneering 100% New Zealand crafted headstones from our natural resources such as seashells. LifeStone New Zealand also leads the memorial industry internationally in developing full HD colour plaque technology with its Enviromax memorial plaques that are often 3 to 4 times less expensive than other options with maximum non fragile durability.


LifeStone New Zealand 100% Kiwi sourced and crafted headstone. Early prototype for the Rau Whanau crafted of the sands of Tainui and Ngapuhi.

  • Average cost of a modern standing granite headstone: NZD $5,500

  • Custom designs or larger memorials: Can exceed NZD $10,000

While modern headstones are more affordable and easier to produce, until the recent disruptions in the industry led by LifeStone New Zealand, most modern headstones have been of a cookie cutter nature, with limited options offered to Kiwi families to personalise the memorial as a celebration of life.

With LifeStone New Zealand’s Life-Legacy technology, Cemeteries are becoming intergenerational hub of learning and connection where videos, photos, music and written reflections hold the legacy of a loved one at their resting place to educate and ground future generations.

Legacy Plaque that connects a persons story and history to a headstone or memorial that will guide and ground future generations. www.lifestone.co.nz/virtual to see if this is right for you.

COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF HISTORIC AND MODERN HEADSTONES IN NEW ZEALAND

 

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