Hoping burials will go ahead next week

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Relief and final closure may be in sight for families still waiting to bury their loved ones at the Taruheru Cemetery where high ground water levels have stopped interments since Cyclone Gabrielle.

Gisborne District Council’s latest burial suspension notice for the cemetery will end on Monday.

“We understand the sensitive nature of these suspensions and continue to work closely with families and funeral directors,” a council spokesperson said.

“We are hopeful this is the last suspension, however, this is weather dependent.”

Evans Funeral Services has six caskets in its care pending burial at Taruheru.

Some families have opted to have their loved ones cremated since the cyclone, and others have had burials carried out at rural cemeteries where water table levels were not an issue.

Rain is forecast for Gisborne from tomorrow, over the weekend and on Monday.