21 Jan 2013

Hopes for resolution of burial dispute

11:30 am on 21 January 2013

The lawyer for a woman who won the right to bury her partner in Christchurch says there has been positive dialogue with the man's family.

The body of John Takamore was taken by his Tuhoe family members and buried in a Bay of Plenty whanau cemetery, even though he had lived in Christchurch with partner Denise Clark and their children for more than 20 years.

After a five-year legal battle, the Supreme Court ruled last year that Ms Clark could bury the body at a place of her choosing.

Ms Clark's lawyer, Gary Knight, says there has been a positive discussion with Mr Takamore's Bay of Plenty family over the past week and he is hopeful the matter can be resolved.