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From: Blanche Charles <>
Subject: Re: [nz] re graves
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:51:32 +1300
References: <mailman.97539.1228075537.2541.new-zealand@rootsweb.com>


Hello Heather,

A headstone is a public memorial and there is no way that a ban can (or should, given that it's a
historic memorial) be put on photographing it. Fair enough not to photograph the woman while she was
at the graveside - she has a perfect right to reject that - but she has no control on who may or may
not photograph that grave at any other time. That is completely irrational.

I can understand her feelings and your quandary - she obviously resented what she considered to be
an "intrusion" - but, for what it's worth, I think you can go back and photograph that grave, when
she's not there, without feeling any guilt.

Perhaps you could take a couple of shots: a distance view of the grave where the cremation plaques
don't show the details, and a closeup of the historic MI, showing the details of the four burials.
That way you would be respecting the woman's privacy, while the woman in Australia would be happy.

Out of interest, which NZ cemeteries have bans on photography? I've never encountered this, either
in NZ or the UK, and have certainly taken photographs in the Northern Cemetery. I realise this can
be a sensitive area, but it's a bizarre concept.

Blanche Charles
Wellington

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"Heather Bray" <> wrote:

I had an interesting experience here in Dunedin on Saturday.
A lady on the Victoria, Australia rootsweb list asked me to photograph a
grave for her in the Northern Cemetery in Dunedin. The grave was of her
great great grandfather's sister who left Victoria in 1862 and settled in
Dunedin with her New Zealand husband.
On Saturday I visited the cemetery and found the grave. There was a lady at
the grave putting on fresh flowers. The grave has four burials (according to
the headstone) and about five modern cremation plaques for recent ash
burials.
I explained to the woman why I was there but the lady refused to let me
photograph the grave. Her husband and son's ashes are buried there. She said
the grave is personal to her family and no business of the relative in
Australia who is not a direct descendant.
I know other cemeteries around New Zealand have bans on photographing graves
and as this lady was clearly upset I did not take the photograph and have
let the lady in Australia know. She wants me to go back and take the
photograph and there is no need for the woman to know.
What do other's think of this? What would others do in this situation?
Heather

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