Wellington City Council
Wellington City Council owns and manages the cemetery. They responded positively to the influenza project initiative and implemented an agreement under which the project operates. The agreement includes development of a digital story book by WCC which will enhance visitor experience and provide immediate access via a digital platform to information about those buried. The project also liaises with and draws on the expertise and resources of the WCC Archivist and WCC Historian.
Karori Cemetery Management and Staff
As part of the agreement with WCC the management and staff of the cemetery support and facilitate project activities. This support includes provision of working bee tools and equipment; assistance with the removal of debris; and tree removal to facilitate the cleaning of graves in “Gum Gully”.
Wellington area Branches, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
The Kilbirnie, Porirua and Wellington branches of the NZ Society of Genealogists have agreed to provide financial support to their members who are conducting genealogical research into some of those who died of influenza and were buried at Karori Cemetery. This support covers some of the costs of acquiring vital Birth/Death/Marriage records.
Descendants/Family Members
Information and other contributions by descendants and family members of those who died add value to our genealogical research, with anecdotes, family stories and photos augmenting the stark material genealogists discover.
Guardian Memorials, Karori
Guardian Memorials has assisted with guidance on the best ways to clean headstones, and what not to do! Their advice and guidance will be repeated at the start of each summer programme of working bees.
Project Volunteers
A staunch group turns up at working bees and weed, clean headstones, and generally tidy the relevant areas of Karori Cemetery. Others keep in touch and encourage those who are able to undertake the physical work. The genealogists beaver away in the background researching and writing up the stories of some of those who died. Occasional seminars/workshops provide an opportunity for volunteers of all kinds to meet and learn more about the epidemic and its effects on Wellington.
Professor Geoffrey Rice
Professor Rice’s seminal work “Black November: The 1918 influenza epidemic in New Zealand” provides vital national information and context. It is the most comprehensive analysis and story of the epidemic published for the general reader, and was based on his analysis of the death records of the period. Professor Rice has generously shared the original record he created of the deaths in Wellington attributed to influenza, and this database has allowed the project to identify the relevant plots amongst all burials during November and December 1918 in Karori Cemetery.
Laura Spinney
Author of “Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World” which contextualises the deaths from the flu in Wellington into the global context. Laura has been in contact and supportive of the project since its inception, and referred to our activities in a recent interview with Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand.
Radio New Zealand
Lynn Freeman, Standing Room Only, interviewed volunteers during a working bee and produced a comprehensive broadcast on the project.
Gareth Watkins and Roger Smith
Gareth and Roger were instrumental in initiating and setting up an online presence for the project and their work in doing so has encouraged and motivated those involved.
The National Library, Alexander Turnbull Library and Wellington Public Library for access to resources that have helped give context to some of the lives documented on this website.
The foresight of the Lychgate Funeral Service which deposited the funeral registers of E Morris junior in the Alexander Turnbull Library is much appreciated as these have provided much helpful information.
Wilson Funeral Home for permitting researchers to access its records on some of the many 1918 burials it was responsible for.
Wellington City Council owns and manages the cemetery. They responded positively to the influenza project initiative and implemented an agreement under which the project operates. The agreement includes development of a digital story book by WCC which will enhance visitor experience and provide immediate access via a digital platform to information about those buried. The project also liaises with and draws on the expertise and resources of the WCC Archivist and WCC Historian.
Karori Cemetery Management and Staff
As part of the agreement with WCC the management and staff of the cemetery support and facilitate project activities. This support includes provision of working bee tools and equipment; assistance with the removal of debris; and tree removal to facilitate the cleaning of graves in “Gum Gully”.
Wellington area Branches, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
The Kilbirnie, Porirua and Wellington branches of the NZ Society of Genealogists have agreed to provide financial support to their members who are conducting genealogical research into some of those who died of influenza and were buried at Karori Cemetery. This support covers some of the costs of acquiring vital Birth/Death/Marriage records.
Descendants/Family Members
Information and other contributions by descendants and family members of those who died add value to our genealogical research, with anecdotes, family stories and photos augmenting the stark material genealogists discover.
Guardian Memorials, Karori
Guardian Memorials has assisted with guidance on the best ways to clean headstones, and what not to do! Their advice and guidance will be repeated at the start of each summer programme of working bees.
Project Volunteers
A staunch group turns up at working bees and weed, clean headstones, and generally tidy the relevant areas of Karori Cemetery. Others keep in touch and encourage those who are able to undertake the physical work. The genealogists beaver away in the background researching and writing up the stories of some of those who died. Occasional seminars/workshops provide an opportunity for volunteers of all kinds to meet and learn more about the epidemic and its effects on Wellington.
Professor Geoffrey Rice
Professor Rice’s seminal work “Black November: The 1918 influenza epidemic in New Zealand” provides vital national information and context. It is the most comprehensive analysis and story of the epidemic published for the general reader, and was based on his analysis of the death records of the period. Professor Rice has generously shared the original record he created of the deaths in Wellington attributed to influenza, and this database has allowed the project to identify the relevant plots amongst all burials during November and December 1918 in Karori Cemetery.
Laura Spinney
Author of “Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World” which contextualises the deaths from the flu in Wellington into the global context. Laura has been in contact and supportive of the project since its inception, and referred to our activities in a recent interview with Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand.
Radio New Zealand
Lynn Freeman, Standing Room Only, interviewed volunteers during a working bee and produced a comprehensive broadcast on the project.
Gareth Watkins and Roger Smith
Gareth and Roger were instrumental in initiating and setting up an online presence for the project and their work in doing so has encouraged and motivated those involved.
The National Library, Alexander Turnbull Library and Wellington Public Library for access to resources that have helped give context to some of the lives documented on this website.
The foresight of the Lychgate Funeral Service which deposited the funeral registers of E Morris junior in the Alexander Turnbull Library is much appreciated as these have provided much helpful information.
Wilson Funeral Home for permitting researchers to access its records on some of the many 1918 burials it was responsible for.