Hutt cemeteries go live

Visitors to Hutt City Council’s website can now search for cemetery records online from the Wainuiomata Garden of Remembrance and the new lawn section of Taita Cemetery.

Searches can be made by surname, even just the first few letters, or refined by including first names and dates.

Once a record has been found it can be printed or saved, and viewed on a map showing the plot location. Photos of the headstone may also be available with images being added to the system regularly.

Making cemetery records available online is part of Council’s Smarter Cities initiative aimed at making it easier to access Council services online.

General Manager Kim Kelly says the new search tool has been eagerly awaited by local genealogists.

“Genealogy is a popular interest and pastime for many and I’m sure people interested in researching family or local history will appreciate the new service.

“We recognise people increasingly want to access Council services online and this new search tool is a great example of how technology can make this happen,” she says.

A project to make old sections of the Taita Cemetery available online is also in progress and Council is working in partnership with NZ Society of Genealogists who are assisting with record transcription and verification.

You can access the cemetery search tool at http://cemeteries.huttcity.govt.nz