Ōtukaikino

A Living Memorial

For over 30 years, Lamb & Hayward Funeral Directors and the Department of Conservation have operated as a joint venture to develop the Ōtukaikino Reserve. Ōtukaikino is a 13 ha freshwater wetland reserve to the north of Christchurch that is being wonderfully restored. It is one of the few remaining original wetlands that were once common around Christchurch.

Here is a very informative video about Ōtukaikino featuring the host of Meet The Locals, Nic Vallance.

Ōtukaikino –  Living Memorial

For every funeral we arrange, a native plant is established in our unique Living Memorial reserve at Ōtukaikino, a place of commemoration for family and friends to visit.

An outdoor memorial service is held at Ōtukaikino each year on the last Sunday in February. An invitation will be sent out for two years after the funeral, and thereafter there is an open invitation for you to join us every year, rain or shine. The service is advertised in local newspapers, on our website and Facebook.

History & Culture

Since 1992 the area has been gradually restored as a “Living Memorial” through a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Lamb & Hayward.  For every funeral arranged by Lamb & Hayward a native plant is planted.  Each year on the last Sunday of February there is a public memorial service held at the reserve where all the plantings of the past year are dedicated as memorials to those who have died over the year.

Ōtukaikino wetland reserve is a Tūāhuriri runanga wāhi tapu site. The wetland was once used for burial preparation; the water, vegetation and mud used by tohunga (priests) for embalming purposes. The area is also known as “Wilsons Swamp” – named after Edward Wilson who started farming the area in 1850. The land was purchased as part of the 1960s motorway development and eventually became a Department of Conservation Wildlife Management Reserve.