New Zealand cemetery
trail part two
The second part to the cemetery trails that I took while in
New Zealand in November of 2012
Queenstown Cemetery
Located on Cemetery Road in Queenstown before you get to the
Gondola. The cemetery had its first burial around 1866, although the Frankston
cemetery in Frankston was preferred, where those took place in 1863. There are
some interesting graves especially headstones for those from The First World
War like Gallipoli and through the Gold Rush in the area as well. Several of
the people had worked in the coal and Gold mines of the West Coast and also the
Klondyke. There are some beautiful headstones. The view from the cemetery can
be spectacular especially when you can see the snow in the mountains.
Arrowtown cemetery
The town was a gold mining town and the home of many Chinese
who came for the gold. Many were buried within the cemetery and then their
bones were transported back to China. The earliest burial was recorded in
February 1864. The War Memorial is just up the hill across the road from the
cemetery. There are some interesting headstones like Edward Thompson who has on
his headstone. Pioneer – Publican – Snob. Many of the headstones tell you where
the people originated from including the ship. When visiting the museum the
staff will direct you towards the cemetery as a point of interest along with
several other locations including the Chinese settlement area.
Frankston Cemetery
The original cemetery in the Queenstown district. It doesn’t
seem to have too many graves as it seems to be a small cemetery within a very
busy area. The government favoured the Frankston area and was the same reason
the hospital was built there as well. The earliest burial was in 1863.
Northern cemetery,
Dunedin
The cemetery was founded in 1872 and serviced the Dunedin
area. One of the historic cemeteries for the area. I visited the cemetery as I
had been there the day before and found the crypt of William Larnach with
security cameras watching the gravesite. This was because his skull had once
been stolen. The cemetery is also home to many notable people within the city
and New Zealand.
Thomas Bracken – Author of the New Zealand National Anthem
Charles Speight one of the people involved with Speights
Brewery
Eliza Sargison – Her headstone is actually the only wooden
marker left in the cemetery
Paihia cemetery
Located at the church in Paihia. The church is known as St
Paul’s Anglican church. The cemetery is only a small one. Agnes Busby is buried
here. Her husband, James Busby is of the Waitangi treaty fame and missionary.
Several soldiers from The Manchester 96th Regiment are buried here
as well. I am not sure of the age to the small churchyard cemetery.
Russell Cemetery,
Christ Church.
The church is the oldest building in New Zealand still being
used for its original purpose. The building still has musket holes in the side
and inside there are cushions with pictures of shipping and local sights
embroidered or sewn onto them.
There are several notable graves in the cemetery. Tamati
Waka Nene (a Ngapuhi chief largely responsible for the Maori’s acceptance of
the Treaty of Waitangi and who fought for the settlers against Hone Heke), A
monument to the men from HMS Hazard who died. The second European child born in
the country and even the country’s first resident surgeon. Outside of the gates
is a stone commemorating the battle of Kororareka in 1845. Both times I have
been to this cemetery it has been raining.
Parua Bay cemetery,
Whangarei.
Located near Parua Bay on the side of a hill. The cemetery
is still in use and some of the lost graves have wooden markers as to who the
family members are. They only provide the names without any other details.
There would be information within the local historical groups. I was with a
family member who knew several people who were in the cemetery. One was his
first employer and another a doctor who had died suddenly. The family
significance was on one side of the family with the Faulkners. There are
several large headstones that were starting to fall over. I don’t know the
history of the cemetery.
Kaurihohore (Kauri
)cemetery Whangarei
Located near Kaurihohore school. I went there with two family members
to visit an aunty that had passed away quite some time ago. There are many
graves in the cemetery ranging from historic headstones to modern burials. Some
headstones have fallen over. Within the cemetery there is a monument to the Bus
disaster in 1930 at McLeods crossing in Hikurangi. Apparently a train had hit
the bus, but I need to do more search. The cemetery does contain a services
area for burials.
Manau cemetery,
Whangarei
My great grandparents are both buried here and another
family member somewhere else in this immense cemetery. There are many different
sections to where people are buried. I am unsure if there are any noteworthy
people that would have others interested in visiting. Given time and more
searching something could be found within the
cemetery.
Pakanae Cemetery near
Opononi
Near Pakanae Marae on Pakanae cemetery road. The cemetery is
a mixture of old and new graves. Most of the burials within the cemetery from
the looks are Maori. There are a few unique headstones including one, which is
a lighthouse. Another headstone actually has the family tree printed to the
back of the stone. I do find something like this to be impressive. It does look
like a well looked after place. The locals do ask you what your business at the
cemetery is if they are in the area.
St Marks Anglican
church cemetery, Paparoa
St Marks Church is part of the Parish of Paparoa, founded in
1881, and has a long and established history in the area. Combining the
fellowships of three churches, two reverends take responsibility for the
ministry and worship of each.
The cemetery is small. An interesting little bit of info I
had heard about this cemetery were that unbaptised babies
couldn’t be buried on the church grounds. This did include the priest, when his
own twins couldn’t be buried. I think they were buried outside the cemetery
grounds. There is now a plaque providing respect for the unbaptised babies that
were buried. The cemetery is where my uncle George Lissington is buried after
he died when he was 10. The township itself is pretty small, but a nice area to
visit.
Matakohe Cemetery,
Matakohe
Located across the road from the Kauri museum.
Joseph Gordon Coates the ex prime minister is
buried here. He had actually been born in the area and was I think the first
New Zealand born PM. He did die during WWII while in office if memory serves me
right. A memorial church had been built in his honour in the same cemetery. A
few members of the Coates family are buried in the cemetery and also Coates
appear on the war memorial across the road. It is a nice spread out cemetery.
Within the area and part of the Kauri museum is the Pioneer church, where
Gordon Coates supposedly attended.
Link to the Cemetery trails part 1
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