Throughout history, we have chosen to preserve the memory of our loved ones with lasting monuments of stone. No other material can be proven to last so long.

Monuments commemorate the lives of our loved ones and the emotions others shared with them. As man developed, so too did his monuments: a pile of rocks over a grave; the pyramids of Egypt; the Taj Mahal; and the burials around a Christian Church are all examples of early monuments.

From when New Zealand was colonised to the 1940's white marble was mainly used to create personal monuments.

As tools became harder and more durable so too did the material and white marble gave way to the everlasting granite. The modern monument is a blend of technology and craftsmanship.

To cut blocks of stone, both horizontal and vertical holes are drilled in the quarry and packed with explosive charges. When the explosives are detonated, a large block of granite is separated from the block wall. It is then blasted again into smaller blocks weighing eight to ten tons each.

To make manageable slabs a diamond saw cuts the rock into various thicknesses.

The key to a monument's lustre is an even polish. With granite this is achieved through the use of successively finer abrasives by the same general principle as a craftsman sands a fine piece of furniture. Because of the hardness of granite the use of state-of-the-art technology ensures consistent quality in the polishing process.

The purpose of a memorial is to record a life as a focus for the families grief. But also it is a record that a person lived and a quiet place to go to remember our ancestors. A great deal of care and individual attention is taken in the lettering of a monument.