Families Unite Over Mistreatment of 1800 Ashes At Waikumete Cemetery

A Facebook page calling for Auckland Council to re-address their mistreatment of the ashes of 1800 New Zealanders at Waikumete Cemetery has united five families previously unknown to each other in under forty-eight hours.

The collective whānau are aggrieved that in the late 60’s and 70’s Auckland Council moved the ashes in question twice, without family consent. Of the 2000 urns taken from their individual memorials in the original crematorium wall, 1800 were finally placed within four nameless buried vaults in an obscure part of the cemetery grounds.

“The fact that other families are coming forward, about their own loved ones being flung into this mass nameless grave, shows me that this action by Council is hurtful and upsetting, regardless of your religion or race,” says ‘Honour the 1800’ campaign organiser, Terry Fergusson.

“My papa, being of Ngāpuhi descent, is missing from his mother’s urupa and whakapapa in the Hokianga. He would undoubtedly have been collected and be resting with his whānau today, if our family were made aware that his ashes were going to be shifted.”

Lee Johnston, a spokesperson for one of the other families involved, is now loath to tell her aunt what has happened to her brother’s remains, for fear of upsetting her.

“My uncle, David Gordon Fraser was killed at age 23, shortly after returning from active service with the New Zealand Air Force. To the best of my knowledge, his remains were in a memorial wall at Waikumete Cemetery.

“To my horror, I now not only discover that his ashes were classed “unclaimed” and put into a concrete underground tomb with 1800 others, but that scant effort was made to contact my grandparents (his parents), who were still living at the same address in Onehunga as when he was killed.

“How hard would it have been to pick up the phone?”

Fearful that the same “insensitive and arrogant” action could happen again to Dave’s parents who are also buried at Waikumete, she now feels hope that Honour the 1800 will be able to bring a more respectful solution to the tragic situation which has hurt and outraged members of her family.

“This wasn’t a tick box exercise or trees that were replanted,” says Mr Fergusson, taking aim at initial Auckland Council responses which state that the interment was undertaken “respectfully” with a minister and approved by elected representatives.

“These were New Zealanders with families - and they should have given their approval, inline with their cultural beliefs, before any official.”

For any member of the public wishing to see if their ancestors count among the 1800, name lists are available to view on the ‘Honour the 1800’ Facebook page.

ENDS

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