A 53-year-old funeral director has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the improper handling of human remains at Waikumete Cemetery.

The cemetery is the largest in New Zealand and is one of 53 run by Auckland Council.

The man appeared in the Auckland District Court on Thursday after being arrested last week as part of Operation Lola.

He faces two counts of ‘deception and obtaining a pecuniary advantage without claim of right’ and one count of ‘neglecting a legal duty’.

The neglect charge explicitly includes his failure to seal and metal-line a casket, as the law requires.

Due to an interim suppression order, the man’s name cannot be published.

Court documents reveal the charges stem from $18,370.36 obtained through deception between 2015 and 2023.

The defendant has elected to stand trial by jury and has been granted bail. He is expected back in court in June.

First funeral director charged pleads guilty

The first individual charged in connection with the mishandling of remains at Waikumete Cemetery was Fiona Bakulich, a former funeral director at Tipene Funerals.

She was arrested in October 2024 during Operation Lola.

Fiona Bakulich has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in April. Photo/RNZ/Lucy Xia

Court documents reveal that Bakulich defrauded families of almost $18,000 over seven years, from 2017 to 2024, and pleaded guilty to 14 charges, which include 12 counts of obtaining by deception and two counts of interfering with human remains. She is scheduled for sentencing in April.

Police are continuing their investigation under Operation Lola, which includes further inquiries into allegations of fraud linked to these incidents.

Inspector Glen Baldwin says investigators deal with complex issues and encourage families who may have been affected or have concerns to come forward.

Meanwhile, Kaiora and Francis Tipene, directors of Tipene Funerals, have clarified that the latest arrest of a second Auckland funeral director as part of Operation Lola is "not us”.

In a social media post, the Tipenes say that the arrest is not connected to their firm, but the couple adds that their thoughts are with those involved in the situation.