Police had been looking at allegations that loved ones’ burials were inappropriately handled at the Waikumete Cemetery mausoleum. Photo / Michael Craig
Police had been looking at allegations that loved ones’ burials were inappropriately handled at the Waikumete Cemetery mausoleum. Photo / Michael Craig
The Herald’s earlier coverage of Fiona Bakulich’s offending stated “several” bodies were placed in bags instead of the coffins that had been paid for. The coverage has been amended to clarify that the Herald spoke to two families who claimed Bakulich placed their loved ones in bags within unlined coffins.
The Herald acknowledges Bakulich was only sentenced in relation to one charge of interfering with human remains in relation to one body. Amendments have also been made to clarify that Bakulich’s other offending related to fraudulent behaviour in connection with burials.
Owners of Tipene Funerals, an Auckland firm of undertakers, are distancing themselves from a fresh arrest relating to an investigation where one of their former employees pleaded guilty to the mishandling of burials.
Police made a second arrest in the case on Friday, five months after the first arrest following an exclusive Herald investigation.
Francis and Kaiora Tipene on a video posted to Kairoa's Instagram page where the two co-owners of Tipene Funerals distance themselves from a new arrest in the burials case.
Kaiora Tipene, who co-owns the funeral company with her husband Francis Tipene, posted a video of themselves on social media hours after the arrest.
“It’s not us, e te whānau,” she said.
“Just know, the Tipenes have only ever served in good faith,” she said.
The pair said their thoughts were with the families affected by Bakulich’s offending. They also said they were “still here, still going strong”.
The couple have been criticised by families affected by the scams, with one woman telling the Herald, “I still honestly believe Tipene have some responsibility”.
Fiona Bakulich, a former Tipene Funerals undertaker based in Auckland, appears in the Auckland District Court for her first appearance, five months later she pleaded guilty. Photo / Michael Craig
The woman at the centre of the scandal, ex-Tipene Funerals undertaker and Casketeers star Fiona Bakulich, pleaded guilty to 14 charges of mishandling human remains and obtaining by deception at the end of February.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said the new arrest was of another Auckland-based funeral director. He has been charged with obtaining by deception.
And more charges against the man were possible, Baldwin said.
The accused will appear in the Auckland District Court on Thursday.
Case raises complex issues, police say: Families vindicated after Bakulich admits scams
Police have dubbed the case “Operation Lola” and were still interested in hearing from other families who may have been impacted.
Baldwin said investigators had been going through complex issues in the case.
Bakulich’s offending, which included wrapping a body in plastic instead of the coffin the grieving family paid for and scamming families of all 11 victims of almost $18,000, stretched over seven years between 2017 and 2024.
Bodies were interred at the public mausoleum at Waikumete Cemetery. Photo / Michael Craig
She was first found out in 2023 when Cyclone Gabrielle damaged the mausoleum in which some of the bodies were interred at Waikumete Cemetery. The bodies needed to be removed for repairs.
Victims who spoke to the Herald after her court appearance said Bakulich’s guilty pleas were vindicating.
