Bodies washed away as river cuts into cemetery

Photo / NZ Herald

The remains of four bodies buried in the Matahiia cemetery near Ruatoria, 130km northeast of Gisborne, have fallen into the Mata River, and more are expected to be exposed as the river cuts further into the burial ground.

A decision to disinter the 23 bodies in the Gisborne District Council-owned cemetery was made last month, but this has been delayed under late this year or early next year because the ground is saturated.

Community property manager Matt Feisst

Residents can only watch as the river cuts deeper into the small graveyard and threatens to take their relatives.

The district council's community property manager, Matt Feisst said the descendants of the four bodies that had fallen into the river had been advised.

The council had contacted 20 of the descendants of the 23 graves dating back to1887 in the disused cemetery.

"We were hoping we could move them sooner but it is impossible because it is so wet.

"There is not much we can do. We can't fight nature unfortunately."

Descendants had been advised to move gravestones, in case the river claimed them.

Funding sources and other legal requirements for a disinterment were being investigated.

Concerns about the river heading toward the cemetery were raised three years ago.

Heavy rain in July carved away a huge chunk of land and since then the situation has continued to deteriorate.

- NZPA