West Auckland’s Morrisons Funerals preparing mass interment of 700 unclaimed ashes
A West Auckland funeral home is preparing a mass interment for more than 700 unclaimed urns containing human remains, some of which have been stored for close to a century.
Morrisons Funerals, which has locations in Henderson and Glen Innes, put a call out yesterday for anyone who may have a loved one whose ashes were never collected to get in touch.
Location manager Natasha Plunkett told the Herald they had inherited several urns after the closure of nearby funeral homes, while others from the 1930s and 1940s were still being looked after.
“For some, it’s been a long period of time,” she said.
She said it highlighted the emotional weight of post-death decisions, and how a simple task such as collecting ashes can be overwhelmed by grief, conflict or not knowing what to do with them.
Anyone with a loved one whose ashes were never collected has been asked to contact Morrisons Funerals, which is preparing a mass interment.
The funeral home is asking for ashes to be claimed by December 1.
“We’re doing a mass interment of the ones we’ve got up until 2020,” Plunkett said.
“And then the ones from 2020-2025, we’re actually keeping on-site for the last five years, so that if anybody has been overseas or something like that, there’s still a chance they might contact us.”
Currently stored in a secure room, the unclaimed ashes will be interred in a Māngere Lawn Cemetery plot.
A plaque with a QR code with a link to the names of the people whose ashes have been interred will beat the site, allowing people to check whose ashes are there, Plunkett said.
“If you’re not sure, you know, ring us and we can look the names up and see if we can match them with anybody that may be out there.”
Ashes do not get collected for many reasons, including the death or illness of the person meant to collect them, family conflict, people living away from where the urns are, or emotional avoidance, she said.
“We find a lot of things these days, like the children are overseas and the mothers or parents die in New Zealand.”
The funeral home recently had a success story where a grandson collected his grandfather’s ashes.
“He came and he claimed them and now he’s laid his grandfather to rest.
“He’s just really pleased that he ... eventually found out where they were and that he could come and get them.”
Families should talk with their loved ones about what they want to happen to their ashes after they die, as it often gets overlooked in wills, which can lead to worries about what to do with them, she said.
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Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
Aucklanders, we want to know: How are you feeling about the current property market?
New Zealand homeowners are now more likely to sell at a loss than at any time since 2013, and if you’re in Auckland or Wellington, the odds are even higher.
But there is a silver lining: buyers are still in a strong position when it comes to negotiating prices.
So we’re curious…
How are you feeling about the current property market?
If you’re keen to dive into the details, Deborah Morris breaks down all the latest insights.
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
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