Resomation visit Christchurch,NZ

We were delighted that Austeng’ s Managing Director, Ross George, travelled to Christchurch,NZ recently for a visit to the newly installed Resomation® unit at Water Cremation Aotearoa. During the visit, Ross met with Director Deborah Richards and her dedicated team to see the facility in operation firsthand.

The visit also brought together Ben Kelly, CEO of ACCA, and Frank de Groot from Geelong Cemeteries Trust, creating a valuable opportunity for shared learning, discussion, and industry collaboration.

What stood out most was the strong early uptake of the Christchurch facility — New Zealand’s first water crematorium. Just months after commissioning, Water Cremation Aotearoa has already completed more than 100 Resomation , dispositions with the majority of families choosing water cremation over traditional flame cremation. This clearly signals a meaningful shift toward more environmentally sustainable end‑of‑life choices in Aotearoa.

The facility operates through a partnership between Water Cremation Aotearoa and long‑established Christchurch funeral directors Bell, Lamb & Trotter. Deborah shared that families are responding very positively to Resomation, particularly valuing its lower environmental impact, absence of carbon emissions, and its gentler perception compared with flame cremation.

Congratulations to Deborah Richards and the Christchurch team for their leadership in guiding families through this change and building trust in innovative technology. The early success of Water Cremation Aotearoa is tangible evidence that Resomation is rapidly emerging as a credible and increasingly preferred alternative within the New Zealand funeral sector.

If you’re interested in learning more about Resomation, visiting an operating facility, or discussing how water cremation could support your community’s sustainability goals in Australia , we’d welcome the conversation.