Burials on hold until next week

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Taruheru Cemetery remains closed for burials until later next week because the water table remains too high for new interments.

It was confirmed this week by Evans Funeral Services owner David Parker, on direction from Gisborne District Council, that the cemetery will remain closed for new burials until April 6.

It has been closed for new interments since shortly after Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mr Parker said they have a small number of caskets in their care pending the re-opening of the cemetery.

“Some families have opted to have their loved ones cremated, where they would normally have had a burial.

“The most difficult part of this is for families who planned to bury their loved one with another family member who was buried extra deep at the time. “They have to wait longer.”

Mr Parker said it was a difficult situation.

“It’s proving distressing for the families involved. The burial is the final bit of letting go a loved one and in these circumstances it cannot happen.

“However, we can only abide by the directive from the district council and it’s disappointing that no one from the council has actually spoken to us about the situation,” he said.

“We have heard from the sexton, but no one from senior council management has picked the phone up to to ask how we are getting on.”

Mr Parker said the communication on this matter from the council had been poor.

“But we’ve been here before with this water table issue at Taruheru and we will get through it.”

■ District council liveable communities director Michele Frey said there have been five burial suspensions of 10 days each time at Taruheru Cemetery since Cyclone Gabrielle.  “We require 1200mm for single-depth burials. Groundwater at Taruheru is currently at 1030mm.

“We understand the sensitive nature of these suspensions and continue to work closely with families and funeral directors,” she said.

“We are very hopeful this is the last suspension, until April 6, that we’ll have to make. However, this is very weather dependent.”