More concerns over the state of Chch cemeteries

Another Christchurch cemetery has become overgrown and is “going to rack and ruin”,  says a family member with relatives buried there. 

Amber Gazzard has come forward with claims the Rutherford St (Woolston) Cemetery is not being looked after by the Christchurch City Council.

The accusations come after concerns were raised by Lynette King over the state of her relatives’ headstones at the Bromley Cemetery. She was told she would have to pay a city council-approved contractor to get them fixed.

However, city council community parks manager Al Hardy said maintenance happens at the Rutherford St (Woolston) Cemetery every two weeks and measures are being taken to address “minor growth on some of the grave tops”.

• Family shocked by state of city's gravesites

Ms Gazzard’s great grandfather Edward Kynaston and great grandmother Annie Kynaston are buried at Rutherford St (Woolston) Cemetery.

People do not have to pay the city council to maintain the vegetation around its gravesites and are allowed to do this themselves. However, Ms Gazzard said they shouldn’t have to and city council staff should be doing this more often.

Said Ms Gazzard: “Years ago, they [city council staff] planted shrubs but those shrubs are dead some of them, on top of the graves. It looks blimmin untidy.”

Along with Ms Gazzard’s family members, six-time motorcycle speedway world champion Ivan Mauger and country singer Phil Garland are also buried at the cemetery.

Mr Hardy said concerns about the state of the graveyard are being addressed.

"Recent site inspection of the cemetery indicates that the lawns and edges are well done and there is minor growth on some of the grave tops, which will be managed next scheduled maintenance round," he said. 

"We have further scheduled some tree maintenance towards the rear and side of the cemetery to address some excess growth.

“Our normal maintenance programme should address the concerns that have been addressed at Woolston Cemetery. However, there are additional maintenance measures that are already in progress to address the maintenance of these sensitive areas (areas around grave tops) across all cemeteries,” he said.

Ms Gazzard was pleased to see the grass has been mowed at the cemetery but said more needs to be done to address shrubs and other plants on top of graves there.