Early Pākehā settler graves rescued from Northland slip, re-interred on new site

Wednesday, 26 May 2021

An early settler cemetery in Northland's Kaeo has been painstakingly moved and restored, after it was in danger of falling onto the state highway.

Historic graves in danger of slipping onto a state highway have been moved and restored after a painstaking five-year journey.

The graves of William Spickman, an early Pākehā settler of Northland's Kaeo, and his relatives were in danger of falling onto State Highway 10 due to long-term deterioration and a slip caused by heavy rain.

Spickman, who died in 1881, was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, Europeans recorded to have settled in the Kaeo area, where he set up a thriving timber business.

The gravestones were at odd angles due to the land slipping.

Descendant Shelley Smyth said family members always knew about the graveyard, but in recent years they were unable to fully maintain the site due to it being situated on private property.

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The cemetery on private property in Kaeo was in a poor state of repair.

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The graves in Kaeo, dating back to 1840, were in danger of falling onto the state highway below.

She alerted Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency to the cemetery in 2015 out of concern it could fall onto the state highway.

The 14 gravesites were exhumed under the advice of archaeologist and iwi adviser Dr Jono Carpenter.

Regional manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said the tombstones could not be seen on aerial surveys of the area, and they were invisible from the road.

Transport agency workers had to clear thick vegetation by hand as they searched for the graves.

The historic graves were moved to Kaeo Cemetery, where the tombstones were restored or replaced.

“They were completely covered in bush, sitting 13 metres up from the roadside at a 30-degree angle, and in imminent danger of slipping,” Hori-Hoult said.

“Our initial thoughts were to build a retaining wall but, as we thought that would disturb the graves, we worked with the family about the opportunity to move their loved ones.”

The new gravesite and memorial at Kaeo Cemetery includes an information board with family tree.

Symth said descendants agreed it would be better to move the graves to the public Kaeo Cemetery, where all family members could visit them.

Once all agreed, a multi-agency project was initiated to restore the graveyard, which had been in use between 1840 and 1914.

The new gravesite and memorial was unveiled on May 7, in front of descendants, after a five-year-journey.

Representatives from Heritage NZ, the Ministry of Health, Far North District Council, Whangaroa College, family descendants and the landowner were all involved.

An historical survey, engineering report and paleo-archaeological medical report were all commissioned, with permission also given to exhume and relocate the graves.

“Renowned New Zealand archaeologist and noted iwi adviser, Dr Jono Carpenter, led the digging works and exhumation operations,” Hori-Hoult said.

“Originally we thought there were six graves, but as works progressed, further headstones and remains were discovered. Fourteen graves were subsequently found.”

The remains of Spickman’s wife, sons, daughter, son-in-law, grandson and his daughter’s four grandsons were discovered at the site.

The remains were moved in December 2019 but repairing and replacing the tombstones proved tricky, with Covid-19 causing a delay in obtaining the granite from overseas.

The plot, with new headstones and an information board, was finally unveiled earlier this month.

Smyth said while the process was long, everyone involved was “absolutely fantastic” and did their utmost for the project.

The end result for the early settlers made it all worthwhile, she said.

“We’ve got the most amazing, stunning memorial to them. I can’t say that anyone would be disappointed with what we’ve done for them.”

Hori-Hoult said she was also proud of the result, as conservation of historical and cultural heritage is important to Waka Kotahi.

“Building a wall was only one solution but, by working together, we were able to design an appropriate outcome which allows everyone in the community to share in this unique piece of history.”