PRESS RELEASE:
8th August 2000
Open Letter to the CEO of the Clutha District Council.
The Chief Executive,
Ciaran Keogh,
Clutha District Council
52 Wilson Road,
Balclutha
8 August 2000
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT
LOCAL BODIES SECTION
Waipori Cemetery.
Dear Mr Keogh,
Thank you for a copy of the letter sent to Murray Burns from the firm which did the GPR survey of the Waipori Cemetery. Also for the letter from Murray Burns stating the CDC supports the principle of allowing the Read house to remain on site.
We note that this decision was reached on the basis of the preliminary report only, from the GPR company. We would like to have a copy of the full report when it arrives, please, so that we can get it peer-reviewed.
Also we would like to know:
1. Who commissioned the report?
2. How much was the full cost of carrying out the report?
3. Who paid for the report?
4. Why was the report commissioned – that is, to what use will the report be put to?
We made a trip to the cemetery last Sunday to see what had been done there. Mr Read has taken your assurances that his house may remain there, and is continuing to complete his illegal house. There is plumbing equipment there and it is obvious that the spouting and run-off into the water tank will be completed soon.
I think you already know that we came in for some quite considerable harrassment by Mr Read and his companions while we were there. We were followed, photographed and abused. That continued into the night after we got home, with abusive phone calls.
We noted that there had been surveyors there. It looked to be quite an extensive and expensive survey of the land around where Mr Read's house stands. We would like to know, please:
1. Who commissioned the survey?
2. Who is paying for the survey?
3. Why is the survey being done?
With respect again, to the GPR report, we understand that it was commissioned without the Mayor and councillors being informed about it. We would like to know:
1. Do you know of any precedent where a local body has commissioned a similar study?
2. Did you know that the company which carried out the "tests" would be digging up parts of the cemetry looking for human remains?
3. Are you aware of the provisions of Sections 51 and 55 of the Burial and Cremation Act concerning the unlawful exhumation of human remains?
4. Did you seek permission of the Minister of Health to commission that company to start digging in the cemetery looking for bodies?
5. Why were councillors and the Mayor not informed that this sort of activity was about to take place?
We have some questions concerning the maintenance of the cemetery. Under Section 57 of the Burial and Cremation Act, any person who allows animals on to a cemetery may be fined. Since the CDC presently administers the cemetery and is now the 'trustee' now that you have sacked the existing trustees, your council would be responsible for the present situation where stock have been allowed liberal access to all parts of the cemetery.
1. Do you think the relevant section of the Act, Section 57, does not apply here?
2. If not, why not?
3. Why have you not maintained the fences properly in years past, and now?
There have been many requests by residents who have asked the present and past council to maintain the fences around the cemetery.
We understand that one of the conditions of allowing the lake behind the Waipori dam to be formed, inundating the township, was that the fences around the cemetery would be properly maintained by the council.
Looking forward to your reply,
Save Mahinerangi Society (Inc.)
View from gravestones through to Mr Read's house.
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