Wakapuaka Cemetery facts for kids
City look-out from the south of the cemetery
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| Details | |
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| Established | 1861 |
| Location |
Brooklands, Nelson
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| Country | New Zealand |
Wakapuaka Cemetery is a special place in Nelson, New Zealand, where people are laid to rest. It is located in an area called Brooklands. The name "Wakapuaka" comes from the Māori language. It means "heaps of aka leaves," which are a type of climbing plant.
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Exploring Wakapuaka Cemetery's Location
Wakapuaka Cemetery is found at the very end of Atawhai Drive in Nelson. It sits on a hill that faces towards the northwest. This high spot gives amazing views! From the cemetery, you can see the Nelson Haven (a calm body of water). You can also spot the Boulder Bank, a long natural wall of rocks. Beyond that, you'll see Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere and the city of Nelson itself.
A Look at the Cemetery's History
This area was first chosen to be a cemetery on November 18, 1861. The very first burial happened soon after, on December 9, 1861. The first person buried there was a 16-month-old child named Grace Annie.
A special building called a crematorium was built in 1945. This is where bodies can be cremated instead of buried. The crematorium has been made larger since it was first built.
There is also a small church on the grounds. It is called the Garin Memorial Chapel, dedicated to St. Michael. Today, Wakapuaka Cemetery covers a large area, about 140,000 square meters. More than 16,000 people have been buried here over the years. Many important people are buried in this cemetery. The cemetery is easy to visit and is even a registered walking path in Nelson.
Remembering War Heroes
The cemetery is also home to the graves of soldiers who served their country. Eight Commonwealth service members from World War I are buried here. There are also 22 service members from World War II buried in the cemetery. A special plaque from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission remembers a soldier from World War II who was cremated.
The Garin Memorial Chapel: A Special Building
This small chapel is named after Father Garin. He was the first Catholic priest to serve in Nelson. Father Garin worked in New Zealand for 48 years. He never went back to his home country of France.
The chapel was finished in October 1890. It is quite small, only seven meters long and five meters wide. The stone used to build the chapel came from different parts of New Zealand, including Canterbury and Otago. A person named Somerville designed the chapel. Father Garin himself is buried in a special underground room, called a crypt, within the chapel.
Images for kids
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City look-out from the south of the cemetery
