TIMELINE OF EVENTS

1999 - After 20 years in Wellington, Larry and Shirley Hurst move to Brisbane. June 2007 - Mr Hurst, 78, dies of cancer. September 2009 - Mrs Hurst, 79, dies after a stroke. That month, her ashes are given to the family in an urn by a staff member at Centenary Memorial Gardens. December 2009 - The family decide to take the ashes to scatter in Wellington. April 2010 - The couple’s ashes are scattered in Oriental Bay. December 2011 - The family receive a letter from the crematorium asking for instructions regarding collection or disposal of their mother’s ashes. heard of a similar incident years in the industry.

Mrs Lightwood said she was incensed by comments in a letter from the company’s solicitor, which suggested the family should have asked if all the ashes would have fitted in the urn they bought.

‘‘When you’re really grieving [it’s the last thing you’d think of]. It would make you feel like vomiting, the thought of your mother being split up.’’

Centenary Memorial Gardens managing director Peter Ship issued a statement apologising to the family and admitting a mistake.

‘‘We deeply regret the oversight, which was made in failing to notify the family of the second urn until almost two years after [it] was given to the family.’’

He reiterated that the urn bought by

in

his

31 the family was not large enough to fit all Mrs Hurst’s ashes in.

‘‘The weight of a body at death has very little bearing on the amount of ash following cremation, with bone density and the size of the coffin being the most important factors.’’

The company had reviewed its procedures ‘‘following this rare and regrettable incident’’ and made changes.

Mrs Lightwood said she hoped the debacle would change regulations governing the industry. However, Mr Manning believed both New Zealand and Australia were well-regulated.

‘‘What regulation does there need to be? It’s common sense.’’

A spokesman for the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematorium Association could not be reached for comment.