The TOKANUI HOSPITAL CEMETERY was in use from the documentation so far discovered from as early as June 1914 until 1964. (could be changeable)

The Hospital during this time was responsible for all burials and burial records, these were carried out by patients and staff on the day.

With the closure of the Hospital, it found it self land locked in the middle of Ag-Research Centre - private farm. It does have public access from Farm Road, however people are required to sign in on arrival so please visit the farm office.(sign posted)

Out of all the people buried here there is only one head stone placed by family some years ago it is "Bridget Nolan" the other a small concrete Memorial in one corner which reads:

"TOKANUI HOSPITAL CEMETERY 1914 - 1964, May the 500 plus people buried here - Rest in Peace."

With the work that was undertaken there are 456 individuals buried at Tokanui.

An additional five burials have been found not listed on the original Death Registers dated 1991 there are however still several empty plots identified but no additional reference as to who if anyone is buried in these. There is one burial which has a name but no plot number.

Military Burials.
There are five RS buried but unable to confirm 100% additional number due to limited information.
This has proved difficult due to information on service files and unable to access the patient information, fitting recognition will be made. A number are from the Boer War, WW1, and men from WW2, it has been to difficult to identify women who may have been in service at this time.

With a lot of positive publicity received in local newspapers and wonderful news of local/regional businesses helping towards getting the Cemetery landscaped and some dignity.

UNVEILING
The unveiling took place 20th February 2016.
Photos - video
http://tokanuihospitalcemetery.weebly.com/

WORK UNDERTAKEN.
Work was carried out by compiling names of individuals buried from the Death Register this is changeable as 2 had been exhumed over the years. Ministry of Justice was contacted and information provided by them was that no disinterment have been carried out, which proved incorrect.

Historical Death Register - Background:
The information on individuals was originally complied in 1991 for the then Tokanui Hospital, this was carried out by the newly formed Te Kuiti Branch of the NZSG Inc. The genealogist carried out very detailed research of all burial Warrants/Burial Register from Hospital archives.

Restrictions on Information:
As with the 1991 project I also identified a number of anomalies these included:
no Christian names,
duplication plots numbers,
no death dates,
incorrect spellings of names,
Names but no plot number
Plots but no names
or if in fact they are buried there or not.

Where possible and with the information gathered I have added NZBDM Registration Numbers to the Find a Grave listing however some deaths appear to have been not Registered with NZBDM or have spelling errors due to family identification.

Listed are the resources used:
Tokanui Hospital Death Register and Maps
NZBDM - NZ Birth, Death and Marriages as well as death printouts
Family contacts
Ancestry.com - Death Index, Electoral Roll and Family Trees listed.
Family Research site - probates
District Councils - burial data bases
NZSG - Burial Locator
NZ Archives - Archways
Papers Past (on-line newspapers)
Google

A large number of family contacts I had were to check if family member was buried in Tokanui, in a large proportion of these were that their family member died at the Hospital but were not buried there especially after 1964, these tended to be in Kihikihi, Te Awamutu or Hamilton Cemeteries

If you have any queries regarding a burial please feel free to contact me.
[email protected]

Anna

Acknowledgement in the research information:
Originally Researched by Te Kuiti Branch of the NZSG Inc. in 1991.