Call for cameras so ‘dead rest in peace’
Other items included a soon-tobe published book by Keith Quinn on the 1987 World Cup and a jersey signed by Brad Shields and his team-mates opposing the Chiefs on Friday night. It was purchased by Norm Williams, of Lower Hutt New World, for $800.
Fraser played 120 games for the Wellington Lions. He now lives in Perth, where he works for a nickel mine. Vandalism at a small rural cemetery north of Wellington has prompted anger from a widow and a promise of tighter security measures.
Marilyn Aitken is fed up with it and asked Ka¯ piti Coast District Council to install security cameras in Awa Tapu Cemetery, near Paraparaumu, at a recent council meeting.
She’s been going to the cemetery along Valley Rd almost every day since her husband died last November.
‘‘I have witnessed some very upsetting things going on up there ... a van driving over graves. My sister ran after him in the driveway, and asked ‘had he no respect?’ He promptly told her where to go.
‘‘The cemetery has been used as a race track so the gates get locked at night. There were fresh tyre marks up there [in March] and on Valley Rd. It doesn’t stop people going into the cemetery at night.’’
One time, a ceramic photo from her husband’s gravestone was smashed.
As well as security cameras, she also wanted staff to take better care of graves.
At one point, she contacted the council after being surprised to see her husband’s plot had dropped about 60 centimetres. The next day, his grave was topped up but others weren’t.
‘‘The weeds are a big problem up there, because some graves are just weeds, no grass.
‘‘I am asking the councillors, the mayor, to help bring this disrespect to an end. Only then can the dead rest in peace up there.’’
Concerned neighbours provided the council with a written outline of late-night partying.
‘‘For years, there’s been issues with late-night parties going on in the cemetery or hooligans blasting their music all hours of the night and doing burnouts,’’ their statement read.
‘‘The cemetery is supposed to be a place of rest and peace, yet somehow the hooligans seem to run riot at this cemetery with no consequence.’’
The group members have reported incidents to the police.
Any person caught not complying with cemetery regulations could face a fine of up to $20,000.