Venue offers to hold services for free
A Wellington venue says it will offer free memorial services for those who lost loved ones during the coronavirus lockdown.
At the Public Trust Hall, a typical memorial service costs $3000 to $5000, but for those left to grieve alone it will be free.
Hall venue manager Kristelle Plimmer said the free services would allow people to finally grieve together.
‘‘You can’t grieve properly when you can’t get together with family and friends,’’ she said.
‘‘It will help everybody to reach the closure that a funeral provides.’’
Many New Zealanders had made huge sacrifices during the lockdown, but none like the thousands of grieving families left unable to hold funerals or tangihanga for loved ones. The coronavirus lockdown had been a terribly sad time for those unable to meet with friends and family, Plimmer said.
During the level 4 lockdown no funerals or tangi could be held.
Under levels 2 and 3, services had a maximum of 10 attendees but that had now changed.
The Public Trust Building owners have made the call to throw free services at their own expense.
‘‘It’s a generous offer, but they’re generous and wonderful people who really want to do good for the community and support the community at this very difficult time,’’ Plimmer said.
She said the Public Trust Hall’s services would start at level 1.
‘‘At the moment, funerals are allowed up to 50 people, but not memorial services.
‘‘Ten people, socially isolated and no cups of tea . . . to me that doesn’t mean a memorial service.’’
Anyone in the Greater Wellington region who had lost someone during the lockdown was welcome, she said.
‘‘There’s no limit – it’s not like the first 10 people. If they’ve been bereaved during this time, they’re welcome to a free service.’’
The Public Trust Building, an Edwardian Baroque-style building, was saved from the wrecking ball after the 2013 Seddon earthquakes.
The building’s restored hall was reopened as an events venue at the end of 2019.
‘‘As an events space, it was really starting to get cranking when Covid19 came along, and poof, no events,’’ Plimmer said.