By Mary Afemata of Local Democracy Reporting
A trial date has been set for a second former Auckland funeral director, whose name is suppressed.
The name suppression and other matters will be argued at a pre-trial hearing on 25 November 2025.
The former funeral director, who appeared in court on Tuesday, had earlier pleaded not guilty to charges related to the improper handling of human remains at Waikumete Cemetery, the largest in New Zealand and one of 53 run by Auckland Council.
The court has ordered that any pre-trial applications must be filed by 3 November, with responses due by 17 November. A five-day jury trial is scheduled to begin on 8 June 2026.
Bail for the defendant and name suppression for the complainants will continue until the November hearing.
Waikumete Cemetery was also the site of previous offences involving former funeral director Fiona Bakulich, who was arrested in October 2024 during Operation Lola. She was sentenced in April 2025.
