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| Waikumete Crematorium complex. Photo credit Cathy Currie |
Auckland City Council manages the cemetery which sprawls across 108 hectares of hills and valleys. It is one of Auckland’s largest public parks, New Zealand’s largest Cemetery and the third largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere.
Waikumete operates a crematorium and
2 funeral chapels. It also has a historic chapel ‘Chapel of Faith in the Oaks’ built
in 1886 which has been restored and is now used mainly for weddings, funerals and community events. A historical
sextons house and heritage trees are also situated on the cemetery grounds.
The cemetery contains historic grave
sites and a variety heritage headstones and unique memorials which are a
valuable source of our history. It is abundant with wildlife, and exhibits a
natural beauty in all seasons, particularly in the spring when the heritage burial areas are are smothered in a spectacular sea of
wildflowers.
Waikumete Cemetery is the resting place for over 90,000 individuals. From 1886 it was Auckland's main burial ground, and in its heavy clay soil lies members of Auckland's multicultural community ranging from well known identities and soldiers, to murderers, victims of disaster and disease to ordinary citizens. The stories of their lives lay with them among the shady trees, dry grasses and bright blooms of the cemetery. Some are remembered, and other stories are hidden in niches and buried beneath cold concrete and wet sods of earth. We aim to discover stories and share them to preserve our communities history, keep memories alive, and give the acknowledgement and respect that is deserved. You will find some of these stories here in 'Tales to Tell' and by selecting a category located in the side bar on the right.
Some notable interments in Waikumete Cemetery are
broadcaster and actress Angela D’Audney, Formula1 race car driver Bruce
McLaren, speedway champion Barry Butterworth, song writer and musician of the
band Dragon Paul Hewson, author Maurice Shadbolt, and artist Louis John Steele.
There are many more. Read about some of them and view their graves on the following link:
People of Interest
People of Interest
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| The faces of Discover Waikumete Cemetery. Photo: Cathy Currie |
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