BURIALS ON HOLD

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

Gisborne families wanting to bury their loved ones at Taruheru Cemetery are in limbo while the district council monitors issues with groundwater at the site.
Nobody has been buried at the cemetery since before Cyclone Gabrielle as groundwater levels remain too high.
Council liveable communities director Michele Frey said levels were slowly receding but further rain had exacerbated the issue. 
“Since then (Cyclone Gabrielle), groundwater levels have been very high … we require 1200 millimetres for single-depth burials. 
“Groundwater at Taruheru is currently at 800mm.”
Ms Frey said the council had received three inquiries for burials following the suspension and her organisation was working closely with funeral directors and families to keep them informed. 
Following the cyclone, there had been three burial suspensions of 10 days each, with the latest hold in place until March 27.
Evans Funeral Services manager Gavin Nickerson said the issue had affected clients, some of whom had opted for cremation.
Three people were being “held over” until the cemetery reopened, but time wasn’t an issue once the deceased had been embalmed. 
“It hasn’t impacted our business (but) it’s caused some issues for some families I’m imagining.” 
The council maintains 13 public cemeteries — some of which are closed — across the region, covering an area of 51 hectares. 
It isn’t the first time burials have been suspended at Taruheru Cemetery. 
In 2012, high groundwater levels forced a suspension of two months at the site.
Patutahi Cemetery is within permissible groundwater levels for burials, the council said.