Burials at Taruheru Cemetery are on hold until at least March 27 due to issues with groundwater levels at the site. Burials were also suspended for two months in 2012 due to similar issues. Photo: Gisborne Herald / Ben Cowper
Gisborne families wanting to bury their loved ones at Taruheru Cemetery are in limbo while the district council monitors issues with groundwater at the site.
Taruheru Cemetery is a 15 hectare piece of land on the edge of the city which is home to more than 20,000 internments.
Nobody has been buried at the cemetery since before Cyclone Gabrielle as groundwater levels remain too high.
Council liveable communities director Michele Frey said levels were slowly receding but further rain had exacerbated the issue.
"Since then [Cyclone Gabrielle], groundwater levels have been very high … we require 1200 millimetres for single-depth burials.
"Groundwater at Taruheru is currently at 800mm."
Frey said the council had received three inquiries for burials following the suspension and her organisation was working closely with funeral directors and families to keep them informed.
Following the cyclone, there had been three burial suspensions of 10 days each, with the latest hold in place until 27 March.
Evans Funeral Services manager Gavin Nickerson said the issue had affected clients, some of whom had opted for cremation.
He said three people were being "held over" until the cemetery reopened, but time was not an issue once the deceased had been embalmed.
"It hasn't impacted our business [but] it has caused some issues for some families I'm imagining."
According to council burial statistics, Taruheru has the largest rate of use in the district followed by Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay.
The council maintains 13 public cemeteries - some of which are closed - across the region, covering an area of 51 hectares.
It was not the first time burials have been suspended at Taruheru Cemetery.
In 2012, high groundwater levels forced a suspension of two months at the site.
Patutahi Cemetery was within permissible groundwater levels for burials, the council said.
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