February 16, 2021
Native American solution for Gisborne mortuary waste
Mortuary waste in Gisborne is to be returned to the land rather than flushed into the city's waste water system.
Scientist Ian Ruru, who heads the district council's KIWA advisory group, says the council has adopted the Wisconsin mound method, based on Native American practices, where liquid waste from mortuaries and funeral homes containing substances such as blood and embalming fluids will be pumped into a large sand pile.
He says iwi have pushed for the change for decades.
"We were able to impress on council the impact on the mauri of the water and if the mauri of our rivers or waterways is sick, then the people are sick," Mr Ruru says.
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