23 October 2019
Poppies blooming at Porirua Cemetary
From 2-10 November the stories of some of the notable figures in Porirua’s history will come to life with free guided
walks of its historic cemeteries during Cemeteries Week.
“Porirua City has some beautiful cemeteries and urupa, and buried within them are key people who make up our local
history and heritage,” says Daniel Chrisp, Manager Cemeteries. “During Cemetery Week we want to share some of the
stories behind their monuments and remember their sacrifices and accomplishments.”
Chrisp says that veterans, pioneers, settlers and politicians who helped forge Porirua City as it is today, are all
part of the history that is buried within its cemeteries.
“The free guided walks during Cemetery Week offer great opportunities for locals and history enthusiasts to learn more
about our city’s past and the interesting lives that people have led here.”
This year Cemeteries Week will also have a sustainability focus. “We want to lessen the impact that cemeteries have on
its surrounding environment and will share what we are doing to achieve this, but will also welcome feedback and open
conversations from the public to help us be as eco-friendly as possible,” Chrisp says.
The Porirua Cemetery Week guided walks and events are as follows:
Saturday 2 November, 3pm - Pautahanui Burial Ground walk, St Albans Church, opposite Pauatahanui shops.
Saturday 9 November, 11am - Porirua Cemetery guided walk, 32 Kenepuru Drive
Sunday 10 November, 5pm - Porirua Cemetery unveiling ceremony of headstones for eight WW1 veterans who were buried with
no headstone.
Cemeteries Week, in partnership with New Zealand Cemetaries & Crematoria Collective, will take place across the greater Wellington region from 2-10 November.
For the full programme go to: https://www.nzrecreation.org.nz/Site/conference/cemeteries-week/programme/
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