Surprise for Water Workers

Ruapehu District Council’s (RDC) water contractor Veolia working on reinstating a storm water culvert on River Rd in Taumarunui were surprised to uncover what they thought was a grave marker.

RDC Environmental Manager Anne Maire Westcott said that the Veolia workers on-site got a bit of a surprise when they uncovered the edge of the concrete grave marker that they naturally assumed covered a burial site.

“As best practice of Council’s protocols all work immediately comes to a halt until what we are dealing with can be fully determined,” she said.

“This includes notifying agencies such as the Police, local Iwi and health services.”

“Local Kaumatua were notified and attended to bless the work site and undertake the protocols of tikanga practices.”

“Following this, the contractors were given the go ahead to stabilize the area which we then found that the grave marker had been used to cover a water main as part of historic work to protect the main from the storm water pipe.”

“The slab has now been removed from the worksite allowing the reinstatement work to continue.”

Council thanks all parties involved for their attendance and participation in dealing with this sensitive matter.

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