Inside the cemetery gates

Dealing with the dead is hard, but it has to be done. Janine Rankin investigates.

After 38 years working at Palmerston North’s Kelvin Grove Cemetery and Crematorium, Neville Carter, more commonly known as Weka, insists it is not a depressing place.

‘‘To me it’s not. It’s an awesome place to help people, to make things a little easier.’’

Or as co-ordinator Adam Walsh, former sexton, puts it: ‘‘Cemeteries are not for the dead. They are for the living.’’

Weka’s there at 7am most mornings to open the gates, turn the page in the book of memories, and unlock the ‘‘Pat’s House’’ gazebo and the office.

He has two children who died as infants buried at the James Line cemetery, his mother and father, sister and grandparents.

And he remembers where some famous locals are buried, as well as those with stories too tragic to forget. He recognises frequent visitors, some who come every day.

Weka said for some aspects of the job, staff had to harden their hearts a bit to do what was necessary. ‘‘We do see bodies. And when it’s my turn at the crematorium, I am the last one to touch the casket.’’

Beyond the chapel curtain, after mourners have left or a hearse has made a delivery, unless family members want to stay, the casket is put on the trolley to go into the furnace at temperatures climbing to 1000 degrees Celsius.

After the 90-minute cycle, the duty

staff member has to gather the ashes.

And while cemeteries and crematoria are run in compliance with regulation, bylaws and law, there is a lot of flexibility to be sensitive to different religious and cultural requirements.

There is a Muslim section to allow people to be buried facing Mecca, where grave preparations take four to five hours, rather than the standard two hours.

And more and more, the cemetery becomes a treasure trove for family historians and genealogists, who feature strongly among visitors to the site, and to the city council’s website. cost wouldn’t be known until Akitio ratepayers were consulted on the signs’ locations.

‘‘That’s about getting the local knowledge about the best, most effective places to put the signs, and making sure they’re able to be seen without blocking residents’ views.’’

After consultation was complete, council staff estimated the signs would be up in under a month. Collis said the council already had designs for the signs from beach safety consultancy Coastal Research.

Coastal Research director Nick Mulcahy said an Akitio resident contacted him through Surf Life Saving New Zealand with similar concerns last year, and Mulcahy then assessed the beach.

Mulchay created two sign designs, which have been provided to the council for free.