Bring out your dead - but not next to us ...

When Bruce Chapman purchased land in a quiet rural setting not far from Rotorua, he did not envisage being surrounded by death.

The Horohoro man is one of several locals angry the Rotorua District Council has bought 41 hectares below the Horohoro Bluffs in Apirana Rd, about 17km from Rotorua, for a cemetery - without telling ratepayers.

About 500 people die in Rotorua each year, and the city is expected to need a new cemetery within eight years.

The council says the public will get to have its say when resource consent is sought for the cemetery. Horohoro residents are already gearing up to fight the plans.

They say they have a landfill and dog pound nearby and will accept the addition of a youth prison near the landfill - but they don't want a cemetery.

Horohoro residents are worried about visitor traffic to the cemetery and local springs being contaminated by water tainted by bodies.

Mr Chapman said he was not keen to have the "pristine" view from his Apirana Rd property ruined by headstones.

"I'd have never moved here had I known a cemetery was going to be my neighbour."

"In winter you just about have to get your boat and oars and row across the paddocks. It's like a river. There is a risk of pollution to water."

Council's parks and recreation manager Garry Page said the Sala St cemetery was full with only a few pre-sold, children's and RSA plots still available.

It was estimated that within seven or eight years Kauae Cemetery would also be full.

There was still a long way to go before the Horohoro cemetery was finalised.

"It will be at least another seven to 10 years down the track before anything will be done.

"We have to apply and get resource consent yet and then we will consult the community."

The council previously considered a site at Tihi-O-Tonga, used by the pony club, and extending Kauae Cemetery. Both options have since been ruled out although Mr Page would not reveal why.

"There wasn't another site available to us".

Local Maori were outraged at "the council's affront" to spiritual values associated with the Horohoro mountain and water flowing from it.

Kaumatua John Edwards said there was a lot of pre-European history at Horohoro. There were more suitable places closer to Rotorua, such as Kaharoa.

Rotorua district councillor Glenys Searancke believes the council should have consulted before buying the land, which she says is too far out of town.

She agreed Kaharoa might be a better choice.

"It doesn't make much sense to throw everything on [the Horohoro] community when they have been so tolerant."

Kaharoa Prison Action Group spokesman Don Hammond indicated a cemetery would be more appropriate in the rural area than the youth prison originally proposed for Kaharoa.
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