Damaged tombstones at the Kamo cemetery are being renovated after years of neglect.
The Whangarei District Council is investing around $3000 to improve sunken, crumbling and toppled-over graves at the cemetery on Ketenikau Rd, Kamo, in a joint project with headstone maker Robinson Memorials. Some of the graves are over 130 years old.
Whangarei District Council Cemeteries director Helen Cairns said some tombstones in the cemetery had been damaged from long-time exposure to the weather and from rabbits burrowing in the graves, causing them to sink.
Mrs Cairns said the Kamo cemetery was the heart of the community and residents were pleased the site would receive some attention. However, she said the council feared it would not be able to do enough to save some of the older, pre-1900, graves.
Beverley Martin from Robinson Memorials said although some gravestones and memorials are easily repaired, there is only so much refurbishment that can be done on damaged graves.