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Auckland Council were unaware of poppies laid in a cemetery on Auckland’s North Shore being removed from gravestones around Anzac Day.
A social media post by NZ Remembrance Army said the charity was notified that about 100 poppies had been removed from O’Neill’s Point Cemetery in Auckland without explanation.
“Thisis particularly concerning, as many of these poppies were originally placed around five years ago through the efforts of the Royal New Zealand Navy and volunteers,” the post read, “with additional poppies placed over time by families wishing to honour their loved ones.”
The post said this news would be distressing for some who have purchased poppies and placed them on graves, “especially so close to Anzac Day”.
Eloi Fonseca, area operations manager for Devonport-Takapuna and Kaipātiki said Auckland Council was not aware of the reported removal of ceramic poppies from the cemetery.
“We recognise this may be distressing for families who placed these items in memory of their loved ones,” Fonseca said.
Poppies were removed from graves at O'Neill's Point Cemetery on Auckland's North Shore. Photo / Kelly O'Hara, Google
“We’ve made inquiries with our teams, contractors, and local community groups, and there is no indication that Council staff, contractors, or volunteer groups were involved in the removal of the ceramic poppies.”
NZ Remembrance Army said in their statement they did not have a clear understanding of why the poppies had been removed and the charity would make more inquiries to understand what has happened.
“In the meantime, we want to reassure families that we will endeavour to replace the poppies at our cost, ensuring those graves are once again recognised and respected,” the statement read.
“We sincerely apologise for the upset this may have caused and will provide updates as we learn more.
“Lest we forget.”
One commenter called the incident “an unfathomable error of judgment”, while another pointed to other cemeteries in Auckland regularly removing items left on graves.
Another said they were distressed to find poppies on their family grave had been removed and offered to help reinstate them around the cemetery.
