Omaka Cemetery (also known as Blenheim Omaka Public Cemetery) is a historic cemetery in Blenheim,

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

founded in the 1850s. It consists of over 10,000 burials and is the largest cemetery in Marlborough due to its proximity to the region's capitol. The cemetery closed for burials during the later half of the 1970s but was reopened in 2011.Reopening of Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough, Order – 2011-go5666 – New Zealand Gazette
/ref> The cemetery consists of three separate lawns numbered one to three with lawns one and two being established in the mid-nineteenth century. Lawn three was established during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and was used as a cemetery for returned serviceman but over time became the main cemetery for the Marlborough region. Fairhall Cemetery is now Marlborough's foremost cemetery.

Burials

Notable burials in Lawn One (Old Cemetery) and Lawn Two (Catholic Cemetery) include: * Kimball Bent (1837–1916), soldier and adventurer who joined the Māori rebellion during the

New Zealand Wars The New Zealand Wars () took place from 1845 to 1872 between the Colony of New Zealand, New Zealand colonial government and allied Māori people, Māori on one side, and Māori and Māori-allied settlers on the other. Though the wars were initi ...

* Arthur Carkeek (1843–1897), New Zealand Cross recipient * Thomas Carter (1827–1900), third superintendent of

Marlborough Province Marlborough Province was one of the provinces of New Zealand from 1 November 1859, when it split away from Nelson Province, until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. History Marlborough split away from the Nelson Province because th ...

* Henry Dodson (1828–1892), brewer and early mayor of Blenheim * William Girling (1882–1973), politician * Thomas Grace (Archdeacon of Marlborough) (1850-1919), Vicar and Archdeacon of Marlborough. Son of Thomas Grace (missionary) * Richard McCallum (1863–1940), politician *

Mary Müller Mary Ann Müller ( Wilson and then Griffiths; 22 September 1820 – 18 July 1901) was a New Zealand campaigner for women's suffrage and, more generally, women's rights. She is described by the ''Dictionary of New Zealand Biography'' as "New Zeal ...

(1820–1901), suffragist * William Gilbert Rees (1827–1898), founder of Queenstown * James Sinclair (1817–1897), founder of Blenheim Notable burials in Lawn Three (New Cemetery) include: * Fen Cresswell (1915–1966), cricketer * Gunner A. J. Healy (1895–1966), soldier whose arrest in 1917 sparked the Étaples mutiny * Ted Meachen (1895–1970), politician * Charles H. Mills (1843–1923), politician * Edith Rudd (1882–1967), nurse, Florence Nightingale Medal recipient * Charles Saunders (1902–1994), Olympic rower

References

External links

Marlborough District council website
* {{Find a Grave cemetery Cemeteries in New Zealand 1850s establishments in New Zealand Buildings and structures in Blenheim, New Zealand Cemeteries established in the 1850s