The Dunedin City Council has received a $188,707 grant to research unmarked graves of people who died while in institutional care in the city, including Seacliff Lunatic Asylum.
Waitati resident Laura Furness, who has been doing her own project for the past 10 years, said the news was ‘‘amazing’’.
‘‘This will help researching all the unmarked graves.
‘‘I started looking into this subject when I came to Waitati about 10 years ago.
‘‘I’m just morbid and nosy, that’s really it.’’
Due to the unknown number of sites and unmarked graves within the Dunedin region, the council sought the funding in order to begin research and engagement processes.
This involves asking members of the public and interested parties for relevant information, including via an online information form.
Mrs Furness said it was fascinating researching the unmarked grave sites, but also very sad.
‘‘Especially when you hear the horror stories about what’s happened in state care.
‘‘Then even in death you’re just put in the ground and forgotten about ... not even a marker.
‘‘But I guess it is also kind of, there was a lot of shame as well at that time.’’
The Dunedin region has a long history of institutional care, including psychiatric hospitals and psychopaedic facilities such as Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum and Cherry Farm, as well as welfare homes and church-run institutions.
Many of these operated during periods when people who died in care were buried in local cemeteries, often in ‘‘pauper’s plots’’ or unmarked graves.
Mrs Furness said she was aware of at least 180 unmarked graves at Waitati Cemetery alone.
‘‘It’s hard to know how to mark them all.
‘‘Even just a plaque that recognises that there’s people here, because right now you wouldn’t necessarily know.’’
Next steps included constructing a verified list of deaths and burial locations as well as physically identifying potential burial locations of former patients at Seacliff and Cherry Farm, among other institutions.
‘‘You’ve got to talk about it.
‘‘You can’t just pretend it didn’t happen, or else you’re ... doomed to repeat yourself.
‘‘I just think unmarked graves in general are sad, but especially when you’ve had ... such a struggle in life.’’
The council will also engage with mana whenua and whānau on how to best acknowledge those who have died.
This will determine what is appropriate in regard to memorialising and acknowledging those buried in unmarked graves.
The council was among seven local authorities to receive funding as part of the government’s continuing response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.
