Official Information Request - 29 November 2019

Sent: Friday, 29 November 2019 2:52 pm

Subject: LGOIMA request - graves

I refer to your email of 28 October 2019 and subsequent meeting with Council officers on 27 November 2019 regarding graves within the Council's boundaries, and respond below:

1. How many graves are in cemeteries and other burial facilities within your council boundaries?

12,415occupied graves

2. How many graves are marked "unknown"?

Council does not hold records for "unknown" graves but has an area within Kauae Cemetery that has been set aside for the reinternment of kōiwi that has been unearthed during earthworks associated with developments. It is unknown how many times that area has been used.

3. If there are no records of unmarked graves, is there an estimate? As per No.2

4. What is the number of unmarked and unknown graves by cemetery/graveyard? As per No.2

5. How much space is left in cemeteries and other burial facilities within your council boundaries, listed by each burial facility?

In the table above the 'created' number refers to the number of plots that have a berm but are not yet used/occupied but might have been sold. The estimated number is worked out on the land within the cemetery that is yet to be developed at an area of 8m per plot. This 8m takes into account an allowance for the plot, roads, paths and gardens etc and not just the space for interment.

The reason Kauae Cemetery has such a high number of created but not used plots is that there are a lot of allocated plots that are not used within the urupa section. It is suggested you work with the estimated number that can be created for the Public Sections only in determining capacity left at Kauae (1500 estimated).

6. What is the estimated year when there will be no more space for bodies at cemeteries and other burial facilities within your council boundaries?

It is estimated that there is enough capacity across the entire council administered cemetery network to meet known existing demand for the next 150 years. This is based on an average of 125 burials occurring every year and includes the Tarukenga Cemetery however it is currently unclear when development will commence at this site. For total space it may be better to work with only the currently used cemeteries that are able to be expanded to take more plots ie: exclude the Tarukenga Cemetery site. This would give an window of 35 years worth of capacity within the entire network.

Note: The above information relates to council administered facilities only. It does not include private cemeteries such as urupa. Council holds no information on these areas in terms of occupation, space left and numbers per year.

Regards