Kaitangata / Old Cemetery

Kaitangata is 12 km south east of Balclutha on the Clutha River
It is noted for its coalmining history, with it once being a huge industry for the town. In 1879, a naked light caused one of New Zealand's worst mining disasters ever. 34 men lost their lives through an accident which could have been prevented.

The miners cemetery is the only thing still remaining today of the mine explosion.
It was re erected in 1971 in Memory of those early pioneers, and the miners who died in the explosion.

Kaitangata still mines some coal, and there is a lot of coal very deep, but to expensive to extract. It is a run down village now.