Karen Gardiner is a regular at Kauae Cemetery, making weekly visits to the grave of her daughter Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner, who died in a 2010 car accident.<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old was buried in the blue dress she had planned to wear at her school ball.<\/p>\n
Until Christmas, Gardiner had no complaints about the maintenance of her daughter\u2019s resting place.<\/p>\n
Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner’s grave site at Kauae Cemetery.<\/p>\n
But over the past few months, things had gone \u201cbackwards\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the worst I\u2019ve seen in 15 years. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt used to get beautifully mowed all the time, but lately they\u2019ll mow down the middle, but they\u2019ll leave everything on the side, so you\u2019ve got weeds growing up higher than headstones.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it was \u201cridiculous\u201d that another section of the cemetery, where the ashes of her parents and grandmother are interred, was no longer mowed regularly.<\/p>\n
Gardiner maintains the gravesite herself, but understands that others might not be able to.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot everybody lives in Rotorua, and I think they would be gutted if they came and saw the mess that\u2019s there at the moment.\u201d <\/p>\n
She paid $1000 for the plot, which included maintenance as part of the overall package, she said.<\/p>\n
Overgrown grass and weeds at Kauae Cemetery. Photo \/ Rotorua Notice Board<\/p>\n
The conditions at Kauae and Sala St were a talking point on a popular local Facebook page last weekend after an anonymous user posted images of what they called the \u201cneglected, overgrown and disrespected\u201d facility.<\/p>\n
Other commenters shared their disappointment at the level of maintenance of the burial sites, calling it \u201cdisgusting\u201d, \u201cdisgraceful\u201d and \u201cdisappointing\u201d.<\/p>\n
When Local Democracy Reporting visited Kauae Cemetery on Tuesday, it appeared to have been recently maintained. <\/p>\n
Sala St was also well maintained, other than large weeds around older headstones.<\/p>\n
Weeds overgrow near headstones at Rotorua Cemetery and Crematorium on Sala St. Photo \/ Mathew Nash<\/p>\n
Rotorua Lakes Council community experience group manager Alex Wilson confirmed council staff were at Kauae Cemetery on Monday and Tuesday mowing and weeding, as part of scheduled maintenance. <\/p>\n
Spraying was scheduled for later in the week. <\/p>\n
Wilson said she understood there had also been concerns raised about the condition of two of Rotorua\u2019s council-managed cemeteries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know cemeteries are deeply important places for wh\u0101nau. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile overall staffing levels have not changed, we have some vacancies that we are actively working to fill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grass had recently been cut at Kauae Cemetery on Tuesday. Photo \/ Mathew Nash<\/p>\n
She said there had been no changes to maintenance budgets over the past 18 months and blamed the recent growth on summer conditions. <\/p>\n
\u201cDuring peak growing periods, vegetation can grow quickly. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage members of the community to contact our customer service team if they notice any overgrowth at cemeteries, parks or reserves, so it can be addressed as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said plot maintenance fees paid for the \u201clong-term upkeep\u201d of the entire cemetery, but did not cover headstone cleaning or repairs. <\/p>\n