Choosing a memorial is not a job anyone wants to do twice, so the best headstones in Tauranga come from monumental masons who handle the design, the council approval and the installation at the cemetery or urupā. These five cover granite and marble headstones, cremation plaques, restoration and added inscriptions, with showrooms across Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and the wider Bay of Plenty. B.O.P Memorials and Parkinson & Bouskill are two of the most established names.
1B.O.P Memorials
B.O.P Memorials is a family owned monumental masonry business at Tauriko Business Estate, with a second showroom at Mount Maunganui. It has been creating memorials for over 26 years and its principal mason holds more than 30 years in the trade. The workshop is council approved for all cemetery work and specialises in laser photo etching and porcelain ceramic photo tiles, which is how families get a photograph onto the stone itself.
Services
- Custom and standard granite headstones
- Cremation and memorial plaques
- Laser photo etching and shade blasting
- Grave enclosures and concrete berm construction
- Restoration work and additional inscriptions
Highlights
- Family owned for over 26 years
- Principal mason has more than 30 years experience in monumental masonry
- Council approved for all cemetery work
- Two showrooms, at Tauriko Business Estate and Mount Maunganui
- Specialists in laser photo etching and porcelain ceramic photo tiles, plus children’s memorials and granite bench seats
Location & Contact
Name: B.O.P Memorials
Address: 225 Matakokiri Drive, Tauriko Business Estate, Omanawa, Tauranga
Phone: 07 543 2910
Website: bopmemorials.co.nz
2Parkinson & Bouskill
Parkinson & Bouskill have been monumental masons since 1886 and have run a Tauranga showroom for more than two decades alongside five Auckland locations. They manufacture granite memorials, plaques and bespoke headstones and supply throughout New Zealand and into the Pacific Islands. The scale means they handle memorials in different languages and artwork styles as a matter of routine.
Services
- Upright memorials and full cover graves
- Granite and bronze cremation plaques
- Custom designed and bespoke headstones
- Headstone renovation, restoration and lettering refinishing
- Additional inscriptions on existing memorials
Highlights
- Trading as monumental masons since 1886, more than 135 years
- Tauranga showroom has served Bay of Plenty families for over two decades
- Supplies granite memorials throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
- Craftsmen work across different designs, languages and artwork
Location & Contact
Name: Parkinson & Bouskill
Address: 56A Fifteenth Avenue, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112
Phone: 07 578 3611
Website: parkinsonbouskill.co.nz
3A World of Stone
A World of Stone is a Tauranga stone masonry business at Maungatapu run by Paul Gautron, a fourth generation Master Mason with more than 40 years in the trade. Alongside cladding, veneers and sculpture it runs a dedicated monumental and headstones arm with a showroom displaying memorials in a range of colours and styles. It is the option to consider if you want a memorial designed by someone whose main craft is working stone itself.
Services
- Monumental work and headstones
- Memorial design in granite and limestone
- Stone masonry, cladding and veneers
- Stone sculpture and stone art
Highlights
- Director Paul Gautron is a fourth generation Master Mason with over 40 years in the trade
- The Gautron family has worked in stonemasonry for more than four generations
- Recommended masons for Hyde Stone, West Coast Schist, Alexandra Stone, Wanaka Schist and Gibbston Schist
- Showroom display of memorials across a wide choice of colours and styles
- Provides formal consultancy to councils, architects and engineers on the use of natural stone
Location & Contact
Name: A World of Stone
Address: 6 Heke Street, Maungatapu, Tauranga 3112
Phone: 027 236 7329
Website: worldofstone.co.nz
4Elliotts Funeral Services
Elliotts is a Tauranga funeral director that runs a dedicated monumental arm with memorial showrooms in both Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, viewable by appointment. It custom makes headstones and plaques across recumbent desk, book plate, wave, saddle and camber styles, and uses current technology to work photographs and artwork into a design. It also advises families on the council by-laws that limit memorial size in particular cemeteries.
Services
- Custom made headstones and monuments
- Cremation and burial plaques
- Personalised memorial design incorporating photographs and artwork
- Guidance on cemetery by-laws and memorial size limits
Highlights
- Monumental showrooms at both Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, viewable by appointment
- Also has locations at Mount Maunganui and Katikati
- Advises on council by-laws restricting memorial size in cemeteries and memorial gardens
Location & Contact
Name: Elliotts Funeral Services
Address: Chapel on Cameron, 414 Cameron Road, Tauranga
Phone: 07 578 3338
Website: elliottsfunerals.co.nz
5Stonemasons Whakatane
Stonemasons Whakatane was founded by Darren Anderson, a qualified Māori stonemason with more than 40 years in the trade in the Bay of Plenty. Headstones are made at the company’s own Whakatāne workshop rather than outsourced, then installed at the cemetery or urupā the family chooses. It is a preferred supplier to numerous urupā and marae across the region, with whakapapa connections to Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.
Services
- Memorial headstones in granite and marble
- Memorial plaques
- Headstone restoration
- Inscription design and design proofing
- Installation at the burial site
Highlights
- Founder Darren Anderson is a qualified stonemason with over 40 years experience
- Preferred supplier of headstones to numerous urupā and marae, with whakapapa connections to Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
- Headstones produced at the company’s own Whakatāne workshop rather than outsourced
- Physical showroom on Commerce Street plus an online virtual showroom
- Also operates Stonemasons Cook Islands
Location & Contact
Name: Stonemasons Whakatane
Address: 211 Commerce Street, Whakatāne
Phone: 07 308 4144
Website: stonemasonswhakatane.co.nz
How to Choose the Right Headstone Provider in Tauranga
- Ask who handles the cemetery approval, because Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council both set rules on memorial size and foundations, and most masons lodge that application for you.
- Visit a showroom if you can, since granite colour and finish look very different in daylight to how they appear in a brochure or on a screen.
- Check whether the memorial is made locally or imported, as some workshops cut and letter on site while others order finished stone in.
- Confirm whether installation is included in the price, because supply only and fully installed are quoted very differently.
- If the memorial is for an urupā, say so at the first meeting, since the requirements are set by the whānau and trustees rather than the council.
Frequently Asked Questions About Headstones in Tauranga
Do I need council permission for a headstone?
Yes. Memorials in a public cemetery need approval before installation, covering size, materials and foundations, and the rules are published by Tauranga City Council. Most monumental masons prepare and lodge that application as part of the job, which saves the family dealing with paperwork at a difficult time.
How long does a headstone take?
Six to eight weeks to manufacture is common for a custom memorial, plus time for the design proof to be approved and the council permit granted. Many families also wait several months after a burial for the ground to settle before a full memorial is installed. There is no need to decide quickly.
What does a headstone cost?
It varies enormously with size, stone, finish and the amount of lettering or artwork, so any figure quoted before a design exists is guesswork. Ask for the quote to separate the memorial, the installation and the council fees, and ask whether payment can be spread if that helps.
Can a photograph go on the memorial?
Yes, by two different methods. Laser photo etching burns the image directly into polished granite, while a porcelain ceramic tile has the photograph fired onto it and is then fixed to the stone. At least one Tauranga workshop specialises in both. Supply the highest resolution image you have.
Can an inscription be added later?
Yes, and it is common when a second family member is interred. Additional inscriptions are standard, and some masons can letter the stone in place so the memorial does not have to be lifted. Mention it when you first order, because the layout can be planned to leave room.
Can an old memorial be restored?
Usually. Restoration covers cleaning, re-lettering, straightening and resetting stones that have moved or sunk. Older marble weathers very differently to modern granite, so have it assessed rather than assuming it is past saving.
What about memorials at an urupā?
Requirements at an urupā are set by the whānau and trustees rather than a council, so they differ from a public cemetery. Masons in this region are well used to it, and one is a preferred supplier to numerous urupā and marae across the Bay of Plenty.
Is a plaque an alternative to a headstone?
Yes, and it is the usual choice for a cremation or an ashes berm. Plaques come in granite or bronze and are considerably less expensive than an upright memorial. Some cemeteries and memorial gardens only permit plaques in certain areas, which is worth checking before you choose.