Burials in limbo

Large areas of the Taruheru Cemetery were flooded again in the heavy rain over the weekend and the beginning of this week. Burials there had been suspended until today. The council has been approached for an update on the situation. Picture by Liam Clayton

Taruheru Cemetery remains closed for burials due to the high water table levels there in almost all of the cemetery zones.

Many areas of the site had lakes of surface water in the wake of the latest heavy rains, and that includes areas of land set aside for future expansion of the cemetery.

Gisborne District Council advised last week that burials would be suspended until today. The closure also applied to several rural cemeteries.

After Cyclone Gabrielle interments at Taruheru were put on hold for close to two months.

The situation had been back to normal for about a month before the recent heavy rain.

The council indicated last week that the 10-day suspension period would “highly likely” be extended.

The Herald has asked the council for an update.

A spokesman for Evans Funeral Services said the situation for burials at Taruheru was the worst it’s ever been because of the wet weather.