Cemetery trails New Zealand, Part 1

Cemetery trails New Zealand, Part 1

New Zealand has some really nice cemeteries and many of the headstones tell the story of how the towns were built from some of the prominent people who reside there. There are headstones within the cemeteries that are unique too and do not look the same as many of the others. One headstone near Opononi in The Hokianga is actually a lighthouse. Some are small that it takes around half an hour to walk if not shorter and others you can spend nearly one whole day and not see everything. The unexpected ones are actually within the city themselves. These are some of the cemeteries that I have visited while on my last trip to New Zealand. Many websites to the cemeteries will provide with more details and even maps of the cemetery with plot locations

Symonds Street Cemetery

Symonds street cemetery is located in Auckland, which was established around 1942. Several main roads in Auckland do split the cemetery including the motorway, which resulted in many graves being taken out during the 1960s. There are a few notable people of New Zealand history buried there and the graves have been reinforced with metal at the rear of the headstones since they are close to the roads, One of the most notable people is William Hobson, the first governor of New Zealand. I don’t know how many people notice the cemetery when they walk past. The cemetery is actually divided as well in the upper Queen street part where Symonds street, the Grafton Bridge and K’ road all meet up. I don’t know how they managed to build the Grafton bridge and keep several of the graves that are now underneath the actual bridge, but it is an interesting wander. Many parts of the cemetery has started to become overgrown. Auckland public library has information about the cemetery and headstones.

Waikumete Cemetery

Another one of Auckland’s older and largest cemeteries, which was established around 1886, The cemetery is also a reserve for wildflowers that do look wonderful during summer. The cemetery is notable in several aspects. It has a monument for the Erebus, which crashed in Antarctica, Monument to the Influenza epidemic where a large number of people were buried in 1918, Holocaust memorial and the cenotaph near the soldier’s plots within the cemetery. I have several family members buried here and I have found them all. In one area there are several mausoleums to several prominent families. The easiest way to access the cemetery is by train and entering close to the sextons house. The roads are easy to follow although a printed map of the cemetery is helpful especially when you are trying to find a certain plot. Many may not exist anymore or are falling apart if they are old.

Maori war and Early settlers cemetery – Battle of Rangariri

The battle of Rangariri is actually one of the battle locations from the New Zealand wars between the white settlers and the Maori in 1863. The battle for Rangiriri was between British soldiers and Maori from Waikato. The state highway actually goes through the old battle ground. Some of the soldiers involved were buried in the cemetery and by all accounts it is meant to be bigger. It is considered to be one of the most historic sites in New Zealand. Local setters are buried in the cemetery too and there is a monument to those who fought the battle. The gateway and a sign to the side tells the story of the cemetery and the battle.

Heads Road Cemetery aka old Wanganui cemetery, Wanganui

It is the original town cemetery that was open from around 1843 until it closed in 1915. It hasn’t been changed dramatically like several other cemeteries in Auckland and Wellington. Every boxing day there is a motorcycle race that uses part of the roadway.  A local road divides the cemetery into two parts. Several notable people to the town are buried here like William Hogg Watt a prominent member of the town and John Ballance former Prime Minister. It is a nice walk once you find it, although the road is busy and only one side of the cemetery has a fence.

Bolton street cemetery, Wellington

Bolton cemetery is similar to Symonds street cemetery in Auckland when half of it has been pulled up for the motorway. The cemetery is located behind the parliament buildings in Wellington. The walk can be steep and hilly in many places although once you have crossed the footbridge over the motorway then its all uphill. Maps are actually provided at the entrance and several other places. Some of the paths can be steep. The map gives you points of interest like the Seddon memorial and other notable people in the cemetery. There are sign posts letting you know what some objects are like the Sextons house.

Barbadoes cemetery Christchurch

Is the oldest cemetery in Christchurch and contains early residents. Was actually hit with the two earthquakes and the damage can still be seen with headstones lying on the ground. Also there is some land slippage and cracks in the earth that is all part of the quakes. Nice cemetery to wander around on a nice day. The granite map was a touch hard to read with being wet and the sun was shining on it. The cemetery is divided by Barbadoes street and is one busy main road.

Picton general cemetery

This cemetery is actually out of the way and close to where the entrance for vehicles to use for entry onto the ferry that goes to Wellington. Next door to the cemetery is actually a hostel called Tombstone. It seems to have casket handles for doors knobs and other paraphernalia.  Many of the earliest town residents are buried here and has a mix of the old graves with the new. The views from the cemetery are spectacular and you could see the mountains and the water.