Around a dozen graves, some up to 150 years old, have been damaged at a historical Auckland cemetery.
The graveyard is located at St Stephen’s Chapel near Parnell. The chapel, which was opened in 1857, is a registered category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand.
Rosie Cormack told 1News she had been working at the St Stephens Chapel for about five years, working to restore graves and planting old-fashioned roses at the site.
“Everything used to be badly damaged here, and slowly, we’ve restored it as much as we can,” the Heritage Roses convener said. “Some of them were impossible, the ground has subsided quite a bit and tree root damage, but we’ve done what we can.”
She said more than 30 graves had been restored with grants and various donations from across Auckland.
The site was of “huge significance” to Auckland, she added, with several old Auckland families and Māori chiefs buried at the site.
“It’s been a long haul, and then we come, and we find all the work that we’ve done just in smithereens.”
Around a dozen graves, some up to 150 years old, have been damaged at a historical Auckland cemetery in Parnell. (Source: 1News)
Cormack said headstones had been pushed over and smashed on either Sunday or Monday, and that she felt “absolutely numb” when she arrived to see the damage herself.
“I could not believe it — that someone could do something so mindless in a place like this.”
Dean of Auckland Anne Mills said she was “shocked and saddened” by the vandalism.
“It was a bit of disbelief, really, that someone would come and recklessly do this and cause the senseless damage.”
Mills said she really felt for the Heritage Roses group who “worked tirelessly” to keep the graveyard as best they could.
“They do it because they care. They do it because they understand the significance of this place and of the lives that the grave sites here represent.”
Police told 1News in a statement a report of wilful damage at the cemetery had been received just after 5pm on July 7.
“It has been reported that eight gravestones have been pushed over and broken up.”
Auckland Council said it was also aware of the incident.
“This is a disgraceful act and our hearts go out to the descendants of those lying in rest here,” said Auckland Council manager of area operations Martin Wong.
“The council manages the land, gardens and trees at this closed cemetery site, but does not look after the graves, as these are private property, owned by the descendants. That said, we will assist to sensitively tidy up the damage and assist the police with their inquiries.
“The graves are maintained by volunteers, whose efforts have been helped by two Auckland Council grants over the last six years.
“The council is also investigating significant damage to the council-owned toilets at Judges Bay, where sinks, taps and toilets were removed over the weekend, causing extensive damage to this public facility.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 105, or call 111 if they see further suspicious activity or offending taking place.
