Graves damaged at Manukau Memorial Gardens

Auckland Council is asking the families of five people buried in Manukau Memorial Gardens to contact the cemetery, following an accident over the weekend.

“Five graves at the cemetery were damaged after the driver of a car lost control on Sunday morning. We understand the driver was shaken but otherwise uninjured,” says Catherine Moore, the council's Manager Auckland Cemeteries.

“We are trying to get hold of the families to let them know what’s happened and discuss the next steps with them, but we have only managed to get in touch with one of the five families.

“Keeping contact details up to date is a challenge across our cemetery network. We would like to remind people to please remember to let us know when they move house or change their contact details, otherwise we are left without a way of getting in touch with a family member or next of kin,” Ms Moore says.

The council is looking to get in contact with the families of the following people, who would have been buried around 2006:

Felise Emelio
Telesia Emelio
Sione Fanueli Finau
Varutatao Kapumareiti
The council is also putting up signs in the area advising people of the incident and asking visitors to pass the information on to the affected families if they know them.

“We ask that anyone who knows the families to let them know to get in touch with us,” Ms Moore says.

“We also want to reassure other families with loved ones buried in the Manukau Memorial Gardens that no other graves were damaged.”

Families affected can contact Manukau Memorial Gardens on 09 279 8232 or drop into the cemetery office for more information.

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