Media release
26 November 2012
Public views sought on Waikumete Cemetery
If you have loved ones in Waikumete Cemetery, or an interest in the heritage, parks
or wildlife of the reserve, you are invited to an open day at the Waikumete Cemetery
offices on Saturday 1 December to discuss the cemetery’s future growth and
management.
The cemetery is expected to reach burial capacity by around 2018. The open day
aims to let the public hear more about the issues and opportunities facing the
cemetery, and be a part of the consultation process. This is required every 10 years
as part of the review of the Reserve and Conservations Management Plan.
According to Richard Mann, Community Facilities Manager at Auckland Council,
“Waikumete Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in the Southern Hemisphere.
At its peak in the 60’s and 70’s, we believe every resident in Auckland had or knew
somebody who was connected to the cemetery. It is an important facility for
Aucklanders throughout the region and we want as many people as possible to have
a say in its future management and development.”
Other questions that will be raised during the open day include whether some areas
of existing vegetation can be cleared to allow for expansion of the burial areas and
what the public thinks about more walkways, recreational activities and family events
being held in the cemetery’s reserve areas.
At 108 hectares, Waikumete provides for 15 per cent of all burials in Auckland and is
the largest cemetery in New Zealand with over 180,000 internments. It is the only
cemetery that has dedicated areas for those of the Jewish faith and is one of only
two in the region that provides for Muslim burials.
The cemetery also has an Urupa for Maori burials and caters for eco-burials which
are unmarked apart from the planting of a native tree. It is also home to the largest
Service Persons Cemetery and has significant memorials for those who died in the
Erebus disaster in 1979 and the Flu Epidemic of the early 1900’s.
The open day is from 10am to 1pm this Saturday. More information on the open
days and the consultation process is available on the Auckland Council website –
search ‘Waikumete Cemetery’.
Ends
For media assistance, please contact:
Sharne Parsons
Auckland Council
021 993 644