Watch NZH Local Focus: Time to unearth Gisborne's hidden history

Set back from a main road into Gisborne is the city's oldest cemetery.

Prominent politician Sir James Carroll is buried at Makaraka Cemetery, so are some of Turanga nui a Kiwa's first Pakeha settlers.

"This grave site is tremendously historical," Gisborne resident David Langford says.

But 88 headstones representing that history are hidden - the former Cook County Council wrongfully buried them in a trench in the 1970s in a bid to clean up the cemetery.

Families of the deceased, like Mr Langford's, weren't contacted prior to the gravestones being covered over.

"Why is it that some people don't seem to care about how things like this can impact on people?"

Mr Langford says that in Gallipoli the Turks look after everyone's graves with respect.

"And for us here, these are our own people and it's a virtual desecration."

Gisborne District Council has the issue earmarked as a low priority.

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon says: "We have been lobbied by one of the descendants but he's actually passed away now."

Mr Langford belongs to the Friends of Makaraka Cemetery trust which has also been lobbying council since 2010.

He says: "Show some respect for the deceased people by making some other arrangement rather than just burying them in a hole and covering them up without a thought."

"We've only got this one chance at it really because if we let another seven years go by a lot of the people who have connections, direct connections with people who are buried here would have gone themselves so there's a certain urgency in that regard."

But the Mayor can't name a time frame for action.

"It's a complex issue when we're dealing with headstones, it's not ever simple. I think it will be an ongoing matter," Mr Foon says.

"There will be a right time one day."

Mr Langford acknowledges there are specific practical aspects of uncovering the headstones and that some councillors empathise with Friends of Makaraka Cemetery's wishes.

He hopes to see progress before the end of the year.

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