8 November 2020
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Petition calling for CCTV cameras at Kauae Cemetery
Enquiry
I have just seen this petition [see LINK]
I am going to ask a weekend reporter to write a story about this for our Monday paper so thought I had better send it to the council for some comments so that is squared off before the weekend. Questions as follows:
Would the council consider cameras in the cemetery? Why/why not?
Does the council have cameras at any other cemeteries? If so which ones.
What security measures are in place at Kauae?
Let me know if you have anything else to add.
Response
Information:
Council manages Kauae Cemetery cemetery on behalf of the Kauae Cemetery Trust Board (Monty Morrison is the chair of the board).
There is a combined committee (with representatives from Council and Kauae Cemetery Trust Board) that meets to discuss matters related to the cemetery. The committee is chaired by Mayor Chadwick and usually meets a couple of times a year.
There are no cameras at any council-managed cemeteries (can't speak for any private cemeteries) and the trust board would need to agree to anything like installation of cameras at Kauae.
Comment from Mayor Steve Chadwick, chair of cemetery committee:
This is obviously very distressing for the family concerned and we feel for them. It's very disappointing that this sort of thing happens at all at cemeteries where open accessibility is important to enable people to visit loved ones.
Council manages the Kauae cemetery on behalf of the Kauae Cemetery Trust Board and we are very much guided by the board in terms of any upgrades or changes. Any request for something like security cameras would need to be discussed with and agreed to by the board.