16 May 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Sinking graves at Kauae cemetery

Enquiry

We have been speaking with some families with relatives buried at Kauae cemetery. We have been told the floods caused damage there and up to 60 graves may be affected, but there are workers at the site helping remedy this.

Just hoping to please get some clarification on the facts about what has happened there please and what is being done to address it.

Response

From Rotorua Lakes Council's Sport and Recreation Manager Rob Pitkethley:

We can confirm that some graves at Kauae and Rotorua cemeteries have been affected by severe rain in recent weeks. Since last week, staff have started work to address the sunken graves by filling them with soil and levelling them before grass seeding. We understand between 60 and 70 graves, at both cemeteries, are in need of repair, which will be carried out over the next couple of weeks.