Leamington Cemetery has the only natural burial section in Waipā. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The long term capabilities of Waipā’s 10 public cemeteries may have become clearer but iwi and hapū are frustrated at the challenges they face developing their own urupā.
Engaging with Māori on the issues they face with their burial grounds has emerged as a priority for council.
In a report to the council’s Service Delivery committee this week, Reserves Planning team leader Aidan Kirkby-McLeod said while it was outside the scope of the draft plans, there would be benefit in council consulting further with iwi.
He said the council developed concept plans last year and went out to consultation.
Te Awamutu, Hautapu and Paterangi cemeteries could be full within 10 years, commentary with the concept plans revealed.
Kirkby-McLeod said the council has now updated its previous calculations and now know there is slightly less overall capacity for body burials.
While there is more room at Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and Paterangi, there is even less at Hautapu, Leamington Ōhaupō, Pirongia, Puahue and Pukerimu.
There is a possibility the council could sell or repurpose Puahue Cemetery depending on investigations into the land’s original gifting conditions.
Ngā Iwi Topu o Waipā members fed back saying the majority of iwi and hapū are buried in their urupā, in accordance with tikanga.
“Mana whenua face a number of challenges in relation to securing formal access to and/or developing and maintaining their urupā,” Kirkby-McLeod said.
“A number of members advocated for council support to address these challenges given that their whānau are Waipā residents who would otherwise be buried at a council cemetery.”
Forty six submissions were received and changes have been made as a result. The final report will provide direction for councillors during the upcoming Long Term Plan budget processes.
The plans have mitigated the impacts of climate change at the cemeteries through design and location of infrastructure and reduced the use of low carbon alternatives by increasing the number and size of trees through restoration and amenity planning which in turn cuts back on mowing requirements.
The specific changes are:
- Hautapu Cemetery: amend design to accommodate two recently installed berms and confirm intention to replace the picket fence along Victoria Road with a post and rail fence
- Kihikihi Cemetery: reduce the number of internal carparks from 30 to 10 and move the toilet to be level with the car parks
- Pirongia Cemetery: clarify that once the road extension is constructed, a one-way road will be restricted to people with limited mobility, hearses and maintenance vehicles
- Puahue Cemetery: add alternative to land disposal for Puahue Cemetery in case investigations highlight disposal isn’t possible because of the original land gifting conditions
- Pukerimu Cemetery: amendments to improve the safety of access and egress to the proposed new car park
- All cemeteries: show locations of water taps, bike racks, memorial plinths and shade trees.
- 22 June, 2.52pm – an earlier online version of this article and the print edition said the council could sell or repurpose Pukeatua Cemetery when it is Puahue Cemetery.
Hautapu Cemetery is expected to be full by 2033. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
