Long wait for headstones on resited graves angers families

Jenny Cornthwaite is disgusted that after nearly five years, some of her relatives' graves still do not have headstones. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Graves exhumed and resited in 2007 to make way for airport work in Mangere are still to be marked with headstones, relatives say.

Some of Jenny Cornthwaite's relatives were buried at the historic Westney Methodist Church, which left its airport site in 2007 to make way for development, including the planned northern runway.

The church was shifted east to the Abbeville Farm heritage estate, which is opening early next year.

But Ms Cornthwaite says many headstones are missing, and she blames the Mangere Lawn Cemetery Trust Board.

The cemetery's manager, Graeme Cummins, said the job was in hand and problems would soon be resolved.

"There have been a couple of hold-ups. We have had issues with staff. But we have just subcontracted out to a headstone company to do them for us so it's well under way," he said.

Ms Cornthwaite is upset about the delay.

"We are one of the original farming families that lived in Ihumatao Rd. Our families gave permission for ancestors to be exhumed from their resting place.

"To date there are only 19 headstones out of a total 46. That means 27 are unmarked graves after more than five years. This is disgusting.

Ms Cornthwaite said her grandparents, Andrew and Agnes Rennie, had been buried at the original church site.

Their remains were moved, but it was years before their headstone followed them to the new gravesite.

"It took a long time and a lot of visits by me. Their original headstone was finally placed [in] March 2010. The headstone was not changed; it just had to be reassembled, which may have been difficult due to its size. But we had other family members who were moved and there are still two headstones to be done for them. I told Mr Cummins that I would not be pleased until every headstone was up."

An airport spokesman said the matter was nothing to do with his company.

"It has all been handled by the Methodist Church with the knowledge of Historic Places Trust."

Slow going

Westney Methodist Church:

* Built in 1856.
* Moved in 2007.
* Graves exhumed.
* Remains shifted to Mangere.
* Many headstones not in place.