Andrew Bell: Christchurch Water Crematorium co-director on the success of the business

There's strong demand for water cremations, just months after the service first became available in New Zealand.

Since opening in June, the Christchurch Crematorium has carried out 55 water cremations - using an alkaline solution to mimic the natural burial process.

Around 80 percent of their clients choose cremation - most opting for the water-based option.

Christchurch Water Crematorium co-director Andrew Bell says the water-based service sits better with customers, largely due to the environmental benefits.

"We weren't expecting the response, to be honest, that we had from it. 75 percent straight away was a bit more than we were expecting." 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Heather Dup to see Ala Nicking the.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Will of Finance Minister with us after six o'clock. It's
nineteen past five. Now do you remember that christ Church
Crematorium that has started offering water cremations. Turns out people
quite like this idea. Since they started offering the service
in June, seventy five percent of their cremation customers have
chosen the water option. Andrew Bell is a co director
of the crematorium and he's with us.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Now, Hi, Andrew, Hey, Heather, how are you doing?

Speaker 3 (00:23):
I'm well, thank you. Why are people so into it?

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Well, there's a couple of reasons. There's the environmental benefit
is one, just a lack of carbon that goes into
the atmosphere from the process. There's also a preference some
people don't like the idea of fire and prefer water
over that. And then yeah, just tuspetal with some people.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
So if it's such a big business for you at
the minute, is it going to get bigger?

Speaker 1 (00:52):
I imagine it will. I mean we won't expecting. The response,
to be honest, that we had from it seventy five
percent straight away was quite quite more, a bit more
than what we're expecting. And I mean last month we
were ninety percent water cremation. So it's it seems to
be on the app.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
I mean it seems to be like, I mean, you know,
it's not my business, but it seems to me like
this must be a much easier option for you guys,
Like you don't have to get that fire burning really
hot to check someone.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Let's just there aren't no health and safety concerns with
the system that we've got. It does seem to be
a little bit easier to operate.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, I would imagine.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Hey, best of luck that and I'm pleased to hear
it's going well. That's Andrew Bell, co director of christ
Church Water Cremation.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.