Natural Stone Headstones and Memorials
Natural stone headstones are made from weathered rock and valued for their strength and durability. They can be left in their natural form with a small recess for a granite or bronze plaque, or have one face cut and polished for direct inscription.
Some families ask about using a river stone or rock from a meaningful place. This is sometimes possible, but the stone must meet certain standards. It needs to be solid, stable, and unlikely to crack. It also has to meet cemetery size and shape requirements, and be suitable for fixing a plaque.
Basalt and andesite are ideal because of their strength. Some limestones can work too, though they are softer and less durable.
Most of these rocks come from the upper North Island, where they’ve remained untouched for thousands of years. They are often found buried in fields or bush and need to be carefully excavated.
If you have a stone you’d like to use, we’ll need to assess it before quoting.
