Bodies returned as gas leak stops cremations

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Bodies are being returned to grieving families after funerals because crematoriums cannot operate due to the leak from the Maui gas pipeline.

Crematorium furnaces across Auckland were shut yesterday, and families were left to either store the bodies of their loved ones at the funeral directors' premises or having them cremated in another city.

"It's affected us big time," said Clifton Thomson, general manager of Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium.

"Both our cremators run on natural gas, so without gas, basically they've been completely shut down."

Six funerals were held at Purewa yesterday, but Mr Thomson said the families had been informed through their funeral directors that the bodies could not be cremated until the gas was restored.

He said another 11 cremations had been booked to take place today and tomorrow, so potentially 17 bodies could be returned if the gas was not restored by tomorrow.

"I suspect we'd have to be running a 24-hour operation for most of next week to clear the backlog."

Davis Funerals, which runs three funeral homes in Auckland is giving its clients the choice of cremating their loved ones at its Whangarei facility.

Manager Bob Russell said at least six of the 20 affected families had taken up the offer.

"At the moment, all crematoriums in Auckland are not operating. We're not charging them any extra and some of them would just like to have that closure."

The cause of the gas-line leak has been identified as a crack where pipes were welded together. Repairs are expected to take at least two days.

Mr Russell said that when cremations could not be held, "the bodies come back to the funeral director's chapel, and in most cases the bodies have already been embalmed so there is no problem".

Most funeral directors also had a cool room, "so we're well equipped to look after people in that situation".

But the grieving families might not be too happy if the situation continued.

Mr Russell said some crematoriums were looking at using bottled LPG gas, which might happen over the next two or three days if the repairs took any longer.

Auckland Council crematoriums were not operational yesterday, and the Council stopped heating its offices and buildings following instructions from Vector, which manages the gas line.

Spokesman Glyn Walters said the council was sourcing bottled gas for its crematoriums at North Shore, Waikumete and Manukau. "We expect minimal disruption to services."

Mayor Len Brown said the gas leak was a "major challenge" for Auckland and he has activated the Emergency Co-ordination Centre to co-ordinate the work of city departments and council-controlled organisations in a crisis.