Official Information Request - 15 June 2018

Sent: Thursday, 5 July 2018 4:44 p.m.

Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request - land considered for cemetery in Ngongotaha

I refer to your email of 15 June 2018 enquiring whether the land at Ngongotaha currently proposed for a new housing development was once considered by Council as a possible cemetery site, and requesting all available documentation on the exploration of that land for a possible cemetery site.

From the beginning of 2004 through to mid 2011 Council considered a number of properties for a potential site for a new cemetery as the Rotorua Cemetery in Sala Street had reached near capacity and the Kauae Cemetery was also filling rapidly.

Attached (listed below) are relevant documents covering this period that show the number of properties considered.

• Specs for Cemetery land - February 2004
• Correspondence to Martin McCaulay Morton requesting sub-soil investigation of Ngongotaha Road property - February 2004
• Valuation from The Property Group for 11 Ngongotaha Road - March 2004
• Correspondence to Martin McCaulay Morton following up on the sub-soil investigation of Ngongotaha Road property - May 2004
• Correspondence from Sigma Consultants regarding ground investigation of Ngongotaha Road property - July 2004
• Correspondence to a number of real estate agents enquiring about suitable cemetery land - November 2004
• Council document - Investigation of Cemetery Land Options - July 2005
• Correspondence to Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands enquiring about possible purchase of land adjoining Kauae Cemetery - April 2006
• Internal File Note - Meeting with Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands about possibility of obtaining land adjoining Kauae Cemetery - July 2006
• Report - Purchase of land for Cemetery - Apirana Road, Horohoro - August 2007
• Memo - Cemetery Land for Rotorua - November 2010
• Report - Purchase of 706 State Highway 5 Tarukenga as Future Cemetery Site - June 2011
• Extract from minutes of Infrastructure Services Committee - Purchase of 706 State Highway 5 Tarukenga as Future Cemetery Site - June 2011

As per the Act, we are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:

The Office of the Ombudsman

PO Box 10 152

WELLINGTON 6143

Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.

Regards