DCC welcomes further public feedback on unmarked graves

The DCC received a significant Government grant in June to research unmarked graves of people who died while in institutional care in the Dunedin area.

The Department of Internal Affairs, as part of its Survivor Support and Recognition Fund, allocated $188,707 to the DCC to help honour those who died in care institutions.

As part of its research and engagement, the DCC has been inviting members of the public and interested parties to provide relevant information, including via an online form.

Since first calling for information in June, the DCC has received dozens of submissions, which have helped in the process to better understand the number of patient deaths at the Seacliff Group of psychiatric hospitals and identify their resting places, including potential unmarked graves.

The Dunedin region has a long history of large‑scale 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.

The Department of Internal Affairs funding has enabled the DCC to contract an archaeologist experienced in identifying unmarked graves and burial sites.

Initial steps in the project have included archival research and consultation with knowledge holders, creating a verified list of deaths and burial locations as well as physically identifying potential burial locations of former patients.

“However, our consultation process is ongoing, so we welcome further submissions from interested parties, particularly anyone who believes they have connections to former patients of these institutions.

“We are particularly interested in receiving feedback on how to memorialise those who died in care.”

Next steps include a review of historical aerial photographs and cemetery maps. A DCC-contracted archaeologist will also be conducting ground-penetrating radar surveys of potential unmarked grave sites this month.

The DCC welcomes feedback from all interested parties.

More information: www.dunedin.govt.nz/unmarked-graves-project

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