Damaged graves are seen at Richmond Cemetery in Nelson. Photo / Supplied
By Andrea Jutson
People visiting loved ones' grave sites to pay their respects this Father's Day were instead met with the ultimate insult - rows of headstones knocked over and broken, and flowers strewn over the ground.
Many family members were in tears after discovering their loved ones' headstones cracked or kicked over at Richmond Cemetery in Nelson.
It's the second time in three days that vandals have damaged headstones at the cemetery.
In the first incident on September 2, 30 headstones were knocked over, followed by another 42 on Saturday night.
"It's an awful day to do it too, what with it being Father's Day," said Tasman District Council's community development manager, Susan Edmunds.
The council provided a staff member to speak to families at the cemetery, and offer support. The customer services team has been fielding calls from concerned family members for the past three days.
Facebook page Nelson Snippets was full of messages from worried families who had been to visit the cemetery after hearing the news.
"This is bloody disgusting. Have just been there to find my mum's grave smashed down - such a horrible thing to see, and for the kids..." said one. "I hope you low lifes [SIC] get caught and get what you deserve for doing this."
"It's just the most upsetting thing I have ever seen," said Tracy Kellor, whose mother is buried at the cemetery. "It made me so angry and just brought me to tears to see the destruction people have caused. It will be a huge job to fix and will cost those family members that have loved ones at rest there a lot of money."
While her mother's grave escaped unscathed, she said her friend's grandparents were not so lucky.
"It's certainly hit at the heart of the community," said council spokesman Chris Choat.
"It's a multi-generational issue, as newer graves as well as the older graves at the back have been affected."
Masons were at the site today to make repairs. Most of the headstones were able to be stood up again, but some plinths were too damaged to allow this, and other headstones will require significant repairs.
Edwards said the council would need to deliberate on what to do about these memorials. While the council will pay for the standard resealing of toppled headstones, the damaged ones were technically owned by families.
Choat said the council would now be providing temporary security at the cemetery, something it has never had to do in the past. Longer-term measures are to be considered next week, after an inventory of the damage has been completed.
"Police visited the site today to take photographs, and an investigation file has been opened to try and locate the offenders," said a police spokesperson. "Obviously an incident of this type is very upsetting."
Witnesses report seeing large shoe prints visible on some of the grave sites.
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