Families of those who are buried in unmarked graves at Pukekohe Cemetery hope for the planned memorial to be a place of reflection, healing and unity for everyone.
Led by Pukekohe Cemetery Committee and supported by Franklin Local Board, several hui have been held to give whānau with loved ones buried in the cemetery the opportunity to provide input on the planned memorial.
Pukekohe Cemetery Committee Manu Taiiko and Chair, Makere Rika-Heke, says the committee were struck by recurring calls for any memorial to be for everyone.
“Time and again we heard families tell us any memorial should be a place of peace, reflection and love, where all were welcome.
“The over-riding message was that despite the graves marking a bleak time in our history, a memorial should be a place of healing and unity,” she says.
Conversations focused on sharing whānau stories, discussing the purpose of the memorial, and exploring how people want to feel when visiting the site.
Rika-Heke says participants recognised the grief associated with having whānau in unmarked graves, recollecting a strong connection between their stories and the market gardens that once flourished in the area at the time, a place where many of the families lived and worked.
Throughout the hui, a strong theme emerged: the memorial should be inclusive and welcoming to all. Families consistently shared their desire for the space to be peaceful and loving, a place that recognises pain but also offers reflection and healing.
Several sensitivities were raised during the hui. Some were simple – like adding signs to inform people about the project – while others were more complex, including how to name or acknowledge those buried and how to manage information respectfully. The committee is taking time to consider all perspective with care.
Franklin Local Board chair Angela Fulljames is pleased to see the project progress to the next phase.
“I want to acknowledge the Pukekohe Cemetery Committee and the wider project group who are carefully listening and working through how to reflect whānau aspirations, so that it is an inclusive place of peaceful remembrance for everyone.”
The next phase of the project is now underway with the Committee taking time to consider all feedback with a focus on developing a concept design for the memorial.
The Committee also plans to launch a dedicated website and Facebook page to make updates more accessible, especially for those living outside the area. Once ready, the proposal will be shared with whānau and the wider community.
As one hui participant simply put, they’d like to see the memorial become, “a place of reflection, healing, and forgiveness.”
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