Kauae Cemetery - Grave of Edwin Bainbridge

Here at the Kauae cemetery in Ngongotaha is the grave of Edwin Bainbridge, who was a victim of the Tarawera Eruption.

Bainbridge was the only guest at the Rotomahana Hotel which collapsed on the night of the eruption. Many of the Rotomahana and Te Wairoa community were saved by the strength of the whare belonging to Guide Sophia, which proved to be much stronger than the hotel, and the Hinemihi meeting house. Hinemihi now resides in Clandon Park in the United Kingdom. Te Wairoa and the Buried Village are near Tarawera Landing.

Meanwhile, Te Kauae Cemetery is having it's own troubles in the 21st Century, with some graves suffering from water damage, subsidence and even sinkholes due to severe weather. New Zealand entertainer Sir Howard Morrison is buried here along with many other notables of Te Arawa and Ngati Whakaue.