The boxes of unclaimed ashes.
Six families have come forward to claim ashes at Whenua Tapu Cemetery and Crematorium.
In January, Council publicised the fact that 23 sets of unclaimed ashes were sitting in a storage room at the crematorium. They dated from 1985 up to 2006, with most brought to Whenua Tapu in the mid-2000s following the closure of a funeral home.
Cemetery Manager Jon King says of the six families, one has elected to inter the ashes within the Whenua Tapu memorial garden area.
“The other five have organised for collection and will bury them elsewhere, which is fantastic news,” he said.
“We’re still hoping to hear from the families of the other 17 sets of ashes by Friday March 1 – if we don’t, we’re going to arrange for them to be buried in the memorial garden as well.”
The unclaimed ashes will be recorded in an online registry.
Any enquiries can be made to Porirua City on 04 237 5089 or [email protected].
21 Feb 2019
