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Car and tractor ‘graveyard’ – Auckland

Car and tractor ‘graveyard’ – Auckland

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Ghosts in Hamilton – Midnight Paranormal article in Prime Hamilton Magazine.

Ghosts in Hamilton – Midnight Paranormal article in Prime Hamilton Magazine.

Our Hamilton based paranormalist buddy, Josh Carroll has managed to get the word out in a local business magazine. Check it out. It’s a pretty good read. Nice one, Josh!

Ghost Apps: Fun or Fraud?

Ghost Apps: Fun or Fraud?

The old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” couldn’t be more appropriate way to start this article. The subject alone is enough to make anyone serious about paranormal research pull their hair out. Ghost apps. How are they fooling the masses? Especially “educated paranormal

Mysterious Occurrences in Butchers Gully

Mysterious Occurrences in Butchers Gully

A few kilometers south of Alexandra, deep in the Central Otago region of the lower South Island, while travelling along Highway 8, (or Alexandra-Fruitlands Road as it is otherwise known), there is a place you will pass by called Butchers Gully. An isolated area that was used mainly for goldmining,

Jubilee Pavilion Shadow Person, Marton

Jubilee Pavilion Shadow Person, Marton

This one I heard about on a trip down to Marton, near Whanganui on the west coast of the North Island. The Jubilee Pavilion is situated in the historically recognised community sporting arena of Marton Park. A historical trust registration marked the park as a place with aesthetic, architectural, historical,

Sophie & the Boy without a face – A True Story by Sophie Collier, Age 8.

Sophie & the Boy without a face – A True Story by Sophie Collier, Age 8.

I’ve seen him more than once. A few times in some of the houses that we’ve lived in before, but the time I remember most clearly was when we moved into the house that we live in at the moment. I usually see him around the same week or so

Akaroa Catholic Cemetery & Garden of Tane Anglican Cemetery

Akaroa Catholic Cemetery & Garden of Tane Anglican Cemetery

Short Film: Maher-Gallagher Cottage – Howick Historical Village

Short Film: Maher-Gallagher Cottage – Howick Historical Village

Haunted Auckland have spent a few years researching the various buildings within the Howick Historical Village, a living museum in Auckland, New Zealand. In our time there the Haunted Auckland team have experienced and documented some intriguing activity. From recorded voices, unusual EMF (Electro-Magnetic Fields) and temperature fluctuations, the distinct

Lake House Art Centre – Weekend morning visit

Lake House Art Centre – Weekend morning visit

Spent a little time this morning at one of our favourite ongoing research locations, the Lake House Art Center. Well, I was planning on doing a little drone photography of the building, but this was cut short. As soon as the drone was up, it was dive-bombed by two massive

Project Puhinui: Session Two – Puhinui House, Howick Historical Village

Project Puhinui: Session Two – Puhinui House, Howick Historical Village

Session Two: 2nd April 2016  –  Duo overnight vigil by Barbara & Karen. People have reported seeing the apparition of a woman walking up the stairs of the house. The mirror in the main bedroom has been seen moving and sometimes swivels around overnight. A friend of a staff member

Editor's Choice
Wharekuri – NZ Ghost Town
Wharekuri – NZ Ghost Town15/05/2021Abandoned Buildings / Haunted Locations / Historic Buildings / Locations of InterestWharekuri This was a busy village as early as 1865. There was a post office, a store and a coal mine. A school was established in 1889 for 24 pupils. The hotel, the remains of which you can see, was built in 1865, by a Mr. Geddes. This was a convenient place for wagons to camp overnight, as the punt service nearby was the only access to Te Akatarawa and Waitangi Stations. In its first year, the hotel was the scene of a holdup by bushrangers, Everest and Davis. It was believed they abandoned the gold and hid at Parsons Rock when given chase by the local authorities. Was the gold really hidden at Parson Rock? It remains a mystery to this day. Parsons Rock Parsons Rock is situated on the right side of the highway, approximately 10 kms further towards the west. Named after Reverend J.C. Andrew, known locally as ‘The Parson’, this rock was the site of his Christmas Day sermons. The congregation travelled great distances to attend, by horse, on foot, or by punt across the river. There is a legend of hidden gold lying in the vicinity also. It was believed that in 1865, bush rangers Everest and Davis, abandoned gold stolen from the Wharekuri Hotel, when given chase by local authorities. There are also claims that the town has it’s resident ghosts, still hanging around.  Voices, mysterious figures and lights seen hovering in and out of the structures have been reported through the years.  Haunted Auckland visited and documented the  site in April 2021.       [...] Read more...
Ngatea Mystery Circle – Terrestrial or Extraterrestrial?
Ngatea Mystery Circle – Terrestrial or Extraterrestrial?21/08/2014Paranormal New Zealand / UFO SightingsFrom the original script by the late Harold H. Fulton It began quietly enough early in September 1969, but before two months were up, New Zealand’s biggest space scare had boomed to the greatest public UFO awareness on record in this far southern land’s experience. For a period commencing mid-September for the following four to five weeks there was hardly a day when the press, radio or TV (in that order) failed to mention new ‘circle’ discoveries, and particularly conflicting findings and opinions of investigators as to the cause of the ‘Ngatea Mystery Circle’. The enigmatic trail-blazer came when the press and radio in Hamilton learned details of farmer B.G. O’Neil’s discovery. On September 4 Mr Bert O’Neil had discovered a strangely affected patch of manuka (known locally as ti-tree or scrub-weed) on a run-off section of his farm. This seldom-visited place was covered with the plant. He had first noticed, from afar, a very bleached patch among the taller ti-tree growths that bound the area. This was three weeks earlier, but on September 4, he made an on-the-spot investigation in company with a local ‘scrub’ contractor and made a major discovery. Before his startled eyes, Mr O’Neil saw a circular patch of dead and silvery-white manuka in the midst of otherwise green and lush growth. Within the circle, an even more interesting find was made. An inspection revealed, near the centre of the circle, three very unusual ground indentations, positioned so as to form the inside points of a triangle. Off to one side of this (scorched?) circle was the taller stand of ti-tree, also bleached and dead. This was the spot that Mr O’Neil had sighted earlier and which had aroused his curiosity. He noted too that the dead scrub-weed within the circle was all still standing and undisturbed. As to what had killed the flora, that was quite a poser. Mr O’Neil knew there had been no spraying of weed-killer from the air or ground on either his or nearby farms. In fact, he had not even visited this part of the property for some six months. He was certain too, in his own mind that the general appearance of the dead scrub was totally unlike the expected effects of weed-killer, which causes a twisting of the stems. As to the strange ground indentations, they were very different from those made by rooting pigs and anyway, there were no wild pigs on the farm. As he stood to survey the whole strange scene, it looked to Mr O’Neil as if some large object had come down from the sky and landed on three long stilts. Its footpads could have made the evenly spaced earth indentations. Somehow the scrub-weed within the circle and the nearby taller stand of 15 feet could have been killed by the object. He had read a little about UFO sightings and recalled how a mysterious circle of dead flora had been discovered in Australia in 1968. Although Mr O’Neil at first only discussed his strange find within the family, the news quickly leaked to the local radio and press. Then the rush to see and to collect souvenirs began in earnest. Luckily a handful of regular UFO investigators were on the scene by Sunday, September 7, but already the area was much trampled; a lot of scrub-weed within the circle had been removed and the ground markings disturbed. The condition of the site was very different from its original appearance when, nearly five weeks later, scientists from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Victoria University of Wellington arrived at Ngatea. Among the researchers from private organizations were four members of the Auckland University UFO Research Group (formed by Tony Brunt and fellow students in December 1968), Tauranga representatives of the Auckland-based New Zealand Scientific Space Research (begun by Henk and Brenda Hinfelaar in 1959), and the Timaru-based Scientific Approach to Cosmic Understanding. The University team described (in part) the area. Quoting from their September Newsletter: “The ti-tree in the 56ft circle was dead and still standing. It was dry and white in colour. The burn was uniform down the stem and was obviously not a heat burn. It did not appear to be the work of a weed-killer or any normal defoliant. The burns were reminiscent of radiation burns. Not quite in the middle of the burnt circle were three depressions which looked equidistant. The measurement showed that the three sides of the imaginary triangle were, in fact, 10ft, 10ft, and 9ft. The vague depressions were about two feet across and about eight inches deep. From two of the depressions, two furrows forming a v-shape radiated out a few feet. None of the surrounding ti-tree had been crushed. A crude radiography test for radioactivity was carried out in one depression and in the middle of the triangle, but this proved negative. Soil and scrub samples were taken. A piece of ti-tree was subjected to a gamma spectrum test; this proved negative.” Press feature on Ngatea Mystery Circle widens interest With the publication of a five-column-width feature story syndicated on the Ngatea incident by several newspapers throughout New Zealand, public interest caught on and caused the first stirs within official confines. The story was headlined: IS MARS NOW TAKING A LOOK AT US? The Wellington Evening Post of September 10 carried the feature; Wellington Victoria University staff had noted it; but when a leading horticulturalist, Mr Stuart-Menzies of Te Puna (near Tauranga) released to the press the results of his examinations of samples taken from the Ngatea Mystery Circle, things really began to pop. According to Mr Stuart-Menzies, the scrub-weed within the affected area had been killed by high-frequency short-wave radiation. Mr Stuart-Menzies had been called in to examine samples by Mr Harvey Cooke of Tauranga. The horticulturalist elaborated: “Manuka from the circle was radio-active and had been cooked instantaneously from the inside outward. Every ounce of moisture in the plants had been instantly vaporized; they are bone dry and brittle. The energy received has reduced the pith to black carbon without the outsides showing any signs of burning.” Mr Stuart-Menzies added that he knew, “no earthly source of energy which could produce these effects; some outside object appears to have landed on the spot, and in taking off, emitted the energy which cooked the plants.” It was now early October and ‘mystery circles’ were being reported from other areas in the North Island, but more notable was the fact that real interest had penetrated official enclaves. First off the mark was an authorized team of four from Wellington’s Victoria University, led by Dr N. F. Barber, Professor of Theoretical Physics. These gentlemen were closely followed by members of the DSIR, sent into the arena by the Minister of Science, Mr Brian E. Talboys. Wellington’s provincial morning paper, The Dominion, has given a day-by-day, blow-by-blow discourse on the Ngatea incident on its front page commencing early October. The Minister of Science apparently was unable to avoid the issue. Wellington is the seat of government and a major election platform was just swinging into real action. The election date was November 29. The moment official interest became directly involved, simple and rational explanations for all mysteries were rapidly forthcoming. It was almost as though an order had gone out to kill off the UFO landing theory as quickly as possible. The official explanations ranged from the possible to the unlikely to the utterly ridiculous. They came in a fast flow from TV., radio, and press, now in the reverse order of priority to that given at the beginning of this account. Some examples of the official explanations: the scrub-weed had been sprayed by aircraft, from a tractor, by duck-shooters; the ground indentations had been made by rooting pigs, by rabbits, and removed fallen ti-tree stems pulled from the soft peat soil. Mr Bert G. O’Neil, a seasoned farmer and owner of the property, had eliminated the above explanations on his first examination and he had been quoted accordingly in the nationally syndicated article of September 10. All non-official investigators and visiting farm friends were inclined to agree with Mr O’Neil.   Investigations by various research bodies in New Zealand Following a letter to Professor N. F. Barber, Department of Physics, Victoria University of Wellington, I received a copy of the report made on the Ngatea Mystery Circle by his team which included Dr R. McQueen (botanist) and Mr V. Neall (soil geologist). Their conclusions were as follows: “The manuka was killed about the month of December by 245T weed-killer compound. The weed-killer was probably dropped from an aircraft at the time of a south-westerly wind. The pattern of the ground disturbance seen on October 10 did not have the symmetry that one might expect of marks made by a machine. Since the party did not see the disturbance of the ground as it was originally found, they are not able to express any positive opinion to its origin.” I also wrote to Mr L. J. Mathews, a scientist at Ruakura Soil Research Station, Hamilton, who had assisted in the above investigation. In reply, he quoted from his memo to Mr Vance Neall. “I have examined specimens forwarded by you and they agree fully with the effects of herbicide application, namely, colouring, slight curvature of the branches, branchlets and leaves, fruiting capsules still present and the brittle nature of the material. Also, most of the leaves have fallen off and this is more typical of a chemical effect than fungal attack. Also sprayed manuka is usually not attacked by fungi as readily as plants destroyed by fire or other means. The results are completely consistent with the area being sprayed with 245T at the rate of 31 lb plus per acre either with the soil miscible concentrate or the emulsifiable ester. Defoliation would occur in 7-10 days or earlier if a desiccant such as diquat and sodium chlorate type of material were added and the plants would be completely dead within 3-6 months.” The Ministry of Science Statement A letter to Mr Brian E. Talboys, Minister of Science, produced a brief reply and a copy of his press release on October 10, based on the report submitted by the DSIR. The Minister wrote: “Plant pathologists who examined the site during this week found that the symptoms are consistent with death from fungus attack. The manuka around the area is ‘stag-headed’, quite typical of plants attacked by fungi and there are many other dead and dying patches in the vicinity. The area was drained about nine years ago and there is a thin mineral topsoil over the peat. The drainage has lowered the water table and the plant cover is adapting to the new conditions. The manuka is undoubtedly affected by a root rot complex of organisms, and there are other pathogens present, including manuka blight. The dark colour of the interior of the dead stems is due to the normal saprophytic fungus which is living on dead tissue. Samples of peat and manuka which were sent to the Institute of Nuclear Sciences were examined for unusual radioactivity. Though highly sensitive methods were used, no radioactivity above normal background was detected in peat or manuka samples from within or outside the circle of dead manuka.” Mr Talboys concluded there was nothing abnormal about the dead patch of manuka, and that normal causes of death should be considered before worrying about possible extraterrestrial phenomena. He said he did not consider that the matter warranted further investigation. The opposition The report was immediately challenged by private investigating groups and their expert consultants, among them, Mr Stuart-Menzies and Mr R. Chidnall (leading horticulturalists), and the Editors of a number of newspapers. In defence, Dr E.G. Bollard of the DSIR plant diseases division pointed out that the report to the Minister stated that saprophytic fungi were found on the manuka, but this was not given as the cause of death. He said he believed the Minister’s statement provided an adequate explanation. By this time, samples were being sent in by zealous citizens from other circle mystery finds, but the DSIR now released a press statement that they were refusing to carry out any further tests. In a press release dated October 14, Mr R.Chidnall joined Mr Stuart-Menzies in repudiating the Minister’s findings. Mr Chidnall said he agreed that saprophytic fungus was present, but this was a secondary state following death and did not explain how the plants died. When he examined the material he found “a set of states” which he could not fit into any ordinary pattern. Under the microscope, considerable differences were found in the dead wood from the affected area to that found in other areas. He also found that the soil from the circle would not support growth. “I sowed seeds in the soil which I collected from the affected area, and they sprouted and died within 48 hours 0- they just keeled over and died!” Seeds from the same packet planted in soil from outside the circle were still growing naturally, he said. Mr Stuart-Menzies agreed that he could see no evidence that the manuka was killed by spray or fungus. Saprophytic fungus lived only on dead material and did not kill. He added that Geiger counter readings taken within a week of the circle being discovered registered radiation in the thicker pieces of manuka. Summing up I have not mentioned the number of interesting UFO sightings made by the time the mystery circles were discovered. However, with at least nine different sites recorded there was not one instance of a UFO being seen to leave the roost, as was at Tully, Australia. On September 4, the day that Mr O’Neil discovered the circle, a UFO was tracked by radar for 100 miles and confirmed by two pilots aloft. The evidence, however, from both private and official sources, is that the circle at Ngatea is most likely to have been caused 3-6 months earlier. Whatever the real cause of the Ngatea and other circles, they must surely have broken all records of coverage of a suspected UFO incident on press, radio and TV. [...] Read more...
Alien Big Cats in New Zealand
Alien Big Cats in New Zealand10/04/2011Kiwi CryptidsFound this interesting article over on http://naturalplane.blogspot.com . Alien Big Cat (ABCs) are alive and well in New Zealand and the sightings of them are becoming many and frequent. Now, before you really think I’m crazy (more than usual anyway), let me educate you as to what Alien Big Cats are. Alien Big Cats (ABCs, Phantom Cats, Mystery Cats) don’t have anything to do with UFOs (usually anyway). The word ‘alien’ in this context simply means ‘out of place’. ABCs are not creatures unknown to science but are well-known cats which are sighted in unexpected places. Their location creates the mystery, rather than their existence. My ‘need-to-know-bordering-on-obsession’ tendency was aroused yesterday when I read an article about an ABC sighting in our local newspaper… 18-year-old student Carl Swanson is adamant he saw a large lion recently near a quarry in Kaiwaka (Northland, NZ). He is keen to revisit the site but will not do so unless he has a gun. The reporter who wrote the story happens to be my neighbour (no kidding). I spoke with him last night, and he believes Swanson’s story is absolutely genuine. The documented eye-witness reports of ABCs in New Zealand are too numerous to be ignored. All evidence points to the fact that there really are mysterious big-cat specimens roaming the bush and countryside. “How did they get here?”, any sane person will ask. The most probable answer is the accidental release/escape into the wild from zoos, wild-life parks etc. Interestingly enough, Zion Wildlife Gardens is situated just 60km north of where the lion was seen. So, if you ever happen to see a mysterious cat-like creature roaming the New Zealand countryside, think twice before you choose not to believe your eyes, keep a camera ready, and maybe, as Carl Swanson suggests, a gun. Some documented ABC sightings in New Zealand (For extensive information on ABC’s in NZ please visit: Mysterious New Zealand 2008: Lion, Kaiwaka Quarry, South of Whangarei, Northland * 04/08/06: Big Black Cat, Haketere (north side of the Ashburton River Mouth) * 03/05/05: Big Black Cat, Mid Canterbury * 11/10/03: Black Panther, PPCS meatworks in Fairton, 8 km north of Ashburton * 03/10/03: Black Panther Mayfield, 35 kilometres west of Ashburton * 2002: Big Black Puma-like Cat sighted at night in Omaui, south of Invercargill * 2001: Black Panther, Farm at Winterslow, Alford Forest * 1999: Black Panther, Banks Peninsula * 13/12/99: Mountain Lion, Moeraki (or Lake Moeraki) * 16/07/99: Black Panther, Lindis Pass * 08/98: Mountain Lion, Dunstan Ranges, near Cromwell * 1996: Black Panther, Twizel * 1996: Big Black Puma-like Cat sighted at night in Omaui, south of Invercargill [...] Read more...
The White Lady of Worstead Church
The White Lady of Worstead Church05/01/2014HauntingsIn August, 1975, Diane Berthelot visited the St Mary Church in Worstead, North Norfolk, UK, along with her husband and son. They ducked into the church to get out of the heat. Diane took a seat on a pew towards the front of the church, while her husband took some photographs. It was not until they returned home, after the holiday, that Diane found this ‘extra’, dressed in old-fashioned clothes and a bonnet, seated behind her. A Ghost Story In  the 1830’s, a man was staying in the Kings Head Tavern in Worstead,  North Norfolk, United Kingdom, where he heard about the legend of the  White Lady of Worstead Church. The legend stated that the White Lady would appear every Christmas Eve,  and anyone who witnessed her, would suffer an untimely death.   This gentleman, not believing in such tomfoolery, stated that he would  stay in the church, and if the White Lady appeared he would kiss her. As  it also happened to be Christmas Eve, he was definitely keen to put the  legend to the test, and show these backward local folk a thing or two! He entered the church and climbed the belfry.   After a time, and with anxiety building over his late return, his  friends went searching for him. They found him huddled in the belfry. He  was shaking with fright, and muttering to himself. He was obviously  dying. His last words were; ‘I’ve seen her, I’ve seen her This story is now adorned in pride of place at The White  Lady Pub in  Worstead. Once known as the ‘New Inn’, it changed it’s name  to ‘The  White Lady’ in 2011, when its new owner took over the  business. The  owner took inspiration from his own home, the building  which used to be  the Kings Head. So,  with the Lady in White apparently the cause  for at least one untimely  demise on Christmas Eve, you may be surprised  to find out that the  locals now believe she is a more benevolent  spirit… A Ghost Photo In  1975 Diane Berthelot, and her husband and son, were enjoying their  yearly holiday out at North Norfolk. It was a hot August day, and the  family decided to visit the church and get out of the heat. Diane had been quite unwell, and took advantage of one of the pews  towards the front of the church. She gave a quick prayer for better  health as her husband took in the sights and a few photographs. It was not until they got home after their holiday that they realised  something mysterious had taken place. As the family were going through  their photographs, they were shocked to see that Diane had a mysterious  extra sitting behind her in the church, a church they are certain they  were alone in that day. This extra looks to be wearing  old-fashioned clothes,  perhaps made of the Worstead Cloth the village is  well known for, and a  bonnet. She is also bathed in a bright white  light. It was quite a curiosity for them, and a curiosity it remained until their holiday back to North Norfolk the following summer.    The Berthelot family returned to the church, and showed the photo to a   vicar. He explained the legend of the White Lady, and told them she  was a  caring, healing soul. It was at this point that Diane realised  the  ailment she had been struggling with for some time, had in fact  been  eased somewhat, after that original visit the year before.   The  photo is now on display at The White Lady pub, and ever since  strange  things have taken place there; lights turning themselves on,  glasses  moved around and the feeling of been touched while in the  cellar.   However, it is not a scary haunting, but rather  comforting, knowing  that perhaps the White Lady now resides in the  building bearing her  name. No one knows the true identity of The White Lady of Worstead Church. [...] Read more...
Lake House Art Centre – Session May 2nd, 2021
Lake House Art Centre – Session May 2nd, 202102/05/2021Investigations / Lake House Arts CentreAnother return visit to one of our fav’ local haunts, the LakeHouse Art Centre. Always a pleasure to get back there to try out new experiments, ideas, trigger objects, and gadgets and to see if we can recapture activity that occurred during previous research sessions. Here are a few fun photos we snapped off during the night. Enjoy – Mark [...] Read more...
Annabelle the Haunted Doll
Annabelle the Haunted Doll12/01/2014HauntingsAnnabelle is not your run-of-the-mill haunted doll, but rather a tool for a much darker purpose. Dark entities can be quite cunning and manipulative in getting what they want, and in the case of Annabelle, two nursing students came very close to losing a friend… A Birthday Gift In  the 1970s a terrible event took place in a small apartment, lived in by two nursing students. For quite some time strange goings-on were noticed by the students, which included strange handwritten messages on paper, objects moving around the house and strange dreams had by all who stayed the night. It would all culminate when a friend was attacked with bloody and burned claw marks, torn into their chest.   The culprit? A Raggedy Anne Doll named Annabelle, who was thought to be possessed by a demon and taking on the guise of the ghost of a little girl… It all began when Donna, a nursing student, was given a  Raggedy Anne doll as a birthday gift from her mother. Raggedy Anne (and  Andy) Dolls were quite popular in the 1960’s/70’s, and the graduate student very much liked this gift. The doll was placed on her bed as a decoration, and not much more was thought on the matter by Donna or her roommate Angie.   However, the girls soon began to find the doll creepy – something was not quite right about it. It sat on the bed in Donna’s bedroom, but the girls felt as if they were being watched. Over time these strange  feelings would develop into fear, as the doll took on a life of its own. The Haunted Doll Annabelle took on a life of her own… It  began with the doll seemingly moving about the house on its own. The  room-mates would come home and find the doll in the most unexpected of  places. At first, its pose on the bed had changed, but soon the doll  would be found throughout the house. Much of the time the girls  would arrive home to find it sitting cross legged on the couch, a place  where the girls would spend much of their time. Donna thought the  room-mate may have been joking, so in the morning, before classes, she  took the doll off her bed and placed it on the couch. However, she came  home before her room-mate and found the doll back on her bed.   The strangest and most inexplicable way the doll was found was standing  upright and leaning against a chair. This very much startled the girls,  and they knew something was definitely up, as the dolls legs were too  flexible to support its own weight. About a month after receiving the doll and dealing with it moving about the apartment, a new phenomena began.   Donna and Angie would arrive home to not only find the doll moved  again, but also pieces of parchment containing short messages written in  a seemingly childlike hand. The messages would say things like “Help”,  “Help Us” and “Help Lou”. Enough was enough! Not only were the  messages creepy, but the girls could not find a source for the paper, as  neither kept parchment paper in the house! Donna sought out  the help of a medium, who soon made contact with the spirit of a young  girl named Annabelle Higgins. Annabelle used to live in a house near to  the land where the apartment complex was built. Annabelle was only seven  when her body was found on the field where Donna’s apartment stood.   Annabelle, in spirit, had been staying in the complex for many years,  but when Donna and Angie had moved in, she liked the girls and found the  doll suitable for habitation and manipulation of the surroundings. Donna gave Annabelle permission to stay with them, as long as she stopped doing things that scared them.   Donna, Angie and the medium seemed happy with the arrangement, but  their friend Lou did not like what was happening. Lou felt that the doll  was evil and should be gotten rid of. When he stayed in the apartment,  he would have very vivid dreams about Annabelle attacking him. Annabelle Attacks One  evening Lou and Angie were sitting on a lounge, reading over maps in  preparation for a road trip the following day. They were startled by  rustling sounds coming from Donna’s room. Fearing it was a burglar; Lou  quietly crept up to the bedroom door then suddenly rushed in to confront  the intruder. No one was there except, once again, Annabelle  had moved. This time she was sprawled out on the floor, the feeling of  life having left her. Lou walked up to the doll to inspect it, then got  the distinct impression that someone was standing behind him. He turned,  expecting to see Angie, but was rather surprised by a burning sensation  in his chest. Lou fled the room to the safety of the living  room where he removed his shirt. To his and Angie’s amazement seven  distinct claw marks were found burned and bleeding in his chest, three  were vertical and four were horizontal. The wounds slowly beaded blood,  but the burning was more pronounced. Something unseen had definitely attacked him.   Donna now believed the doll to be possessed by an evil entity, and once  again sought help. Help arrived in the form of Ed and Lorraine Warren  who had worked on many cases concerning dark/negative spirits, including  the Amityville Case. It was soon decided that the doll was not  possessed, but was rather being used to give the impression that it was  possessed. The entity in this case was not capable of possessing the  doll as it needed a human host, and since this can take time to succeed,  the doll was used to fool the girls into believing that it was a much  more friendly spirit. Essentially, in their minds a ‘demon’ had  attached itself to the doll, but wanted so much more and through the  previous séance, Donna had unwittingly given it free reign of the house  when she gave it permission to stay. It seemed that the intent  was to possess Lou with the doll, trying to get his attention and  possible sympathies through the hand written notes, many of which had  Lou’s name on them. The dreams, scratches and burns typical of the early  stages of the demon making its mark and intent to reside within a human form An exorcism was performed on the apartment, and the   Warrens took the doll with them. Donna, Angie and Lou were now free of   the terrors that had plagued them for the last few months.   As  for Annabelle the Doll, she sits locked in a glass case in the  Warren  Occult Museum, Monroe, Connecticut, together with a sign that  says  ‘Warning. Positively Do Not Open’. The presence can still be felt  within  the doll, by those with sensitive abilities, but as for why the  entity  stays attached with the doll? It  is not entirely certain, but  maybe it is looking for the right person  to pay a visit to the museum in  which to make a new attachment… Ashley Hall 2013 [...] Read more...

“Pioneers in the field…. Leading the way with Paranormal Research in New Zealand” – Connor Biddle, Paranormal Encounters.

“I have much respect for the level of study Mark and his team have put into the paranormal phenomenon through the years. His work is interesting and very well researched.” – Murray Bott, U.F.O Researcher & NZ’s MUFON representative.

”Refreshing to see solid and innovative investigation work, done with passion and honesty. Haunted Auckland stand out in the crowd and dont fit any typical mould. This is a very good thing”. – Paranormal Review newsletter

 

Paranormal New Zealand is the home of Haunted Auckland, a Paranormal Investigation and Research group.

Whether you’ve been aware of Mark Wallbank’s research work since the 1980s, attended his early 90s discussion events, received the quarterly newsletters, subscribed to his popular mid-2000s online blog BizarreNZ, followed the Haunted Auckland team since 2010, or just recently discovered us; WELCOME and thanks for joining in the fun, learning, and adventures.

We are a dedicated group of paranormal researchers, all having one thing in common – a passion and drive to find out as much as humanly possible about the mysterious and unknown field that is the Paranormal, as well as documenting New Zealand’s historical buildings and landmarks in their current state.

Paranormal (păr′ə-nôr′məl) adjective.
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as beyond normal experience or scientific explanation. The term “paranormal” has existed in the English language since at least 1920. The word consists of two parts: “para” and “normal”. The definition implies that the scientific explanation of the world around us is “normal” and anything that is above, beyond, or contrary to that is “para”.

We’re always learning new things, so hope to pass that knowledge on to you all so that you might learn as we do, in this crazy but fascinating world of the paranormal.

Our primary reason for existing as a team is to experience first-hand and document any perceived paranormal activity so that we may learn to better understand the phenomena and the misconceptions surrounding it. Our aim as a research team is to study these phenomena as closely as possible to form more educated opinions via experimentation, documentation, and simply being present at the moment to record and respond accordingly to it and wherever it may lead us.

Firstly a few things you should know about Haunted Auckland. We’re a small Auckland based team of friendly, dedicated, well seasoned and enthusiastic researchers with differing levels of experience, knowledge, skills and expertise.  Our investigators are intelligent, honest, compassionate and possess critically thinking (yet wide open) minds. We’re also very good listeners.

We work closely with Property Managers, local Councils and Historical organisations to help preserve local histories, bring further awareness and raise funds by running public events.

In our time, the team has successfully raised many (much needed) thousands of  dollars, to assist with the upkeep and general running of these wonderful historic locations. Something we are very proud of.

We are also very proud to have worked alongside and assist both the NZ Police and NZ Fire Services with our work.

Haunted Auckland has it’s roots deep and strong. Going back to 1984, with a team (Auckland Ghost Hunting Group) formed by H.A founder, Mark Wallbank; making them NZ’s longest running Paranormal field-research entity.

What we aren’t:

We aren’t Ghost Busters, Ghost Hunters, Exorcists, Mediums, Clairvoyants or Psychics and we don’t do clearings, blessings or the ridding homes of alleged demons. We don’t do prayers, rituals, or bring in any religious elements to our work. We aren’t mental health experts or sleep disorder professionals, though we do work closely with mental health professionals.

We travel that spooky road, between sceptic and believer. We are happy to sit right in amongst it all and take the research wherever it may lead us.

While we are sceptical and doubtful of certain cases and ideas, we have seen and experienced enough in our time to realise that dedication to the research is definitely a worthwhile cause. Instead of blindly believing (or disbelieving), or just accepting what we are told is true and real, we prefer to seek out the answers ourselves through first-hand, “boots on the ground” investigation. Experimentation, observation and documentation. We don’t have all the answers and we don’t consider ourselves experts.

We don’t make bold claims we can’t back up with evidence or reliable data.

The team prides itself in being quite a bit different from other paranormal investigation teams out there. We tend to stay away from the mainstream gadget fads.

Research time in locations is valuable and a privilege, so wasting it on pointless flashy boxes that offer no accurate data in return or are vague and open to interpretation (as well as mis-interpretation) is counter-productive and a poorly used opportunity. Thinking outside of the ‘’box’’ confinements of the popular T.V and social media- lead mainstream is something, the team sees as important if the field is to move forward and gain any serious credibility or traction within scientific or academic circles.

The team utilises a combination of old-school thinking and techniques, coupled with a modern way of thinking. Simple and stripped back yet embracing current technology to work though theories and ideas that may find their way into our research. We don’t make claims we can’t back up with evidence or reliable data.

We pride ourselves in keeping it real. No faking evidence or embellishing of facts. If nothing happened, nothing happened.

Why we don’t offer Clearings and Banishings

We decided many years ago to stop offering clearings and cleansings, as the more we learned, the more unethical (even damaging) we could see it was on a few levels.
We wanted to experience and observe these ”beings” and learn about them. Learn from them directly, if such a thing is possible.
To hopefully interact and document as much as we could of it to advance the study of the paranormal.

If the theories on spirits are correct, then clearing, or ”banishing” becomes nothing more than a punishment, torture, an eviction from a home, or even a death. Death to a person (possibly living in an alternative dimension we are yet to even understand or comprehend), that has as much right to exist as ourselves.
Until ghosts, spirits, negative energies, and demons have been sufficiently verified to actually exist, (to which they as yet haven’t, outside of belief, possible misinterpretation, and superstition) it would be unethical to assume a position of knowledge and superiority enough to think we have rights that far outweigh theirs. That we may enter their home and try to evict or eradicate them as if they were cockroaches or some other household pest.

It’s about respect, understanding and compassion; on both sides.

What we are, is “real world” researchers. Learning by doing. If we don’t know something, we say so.

We don’t charge anything for what we do. The opportunity to investigate a location and hopefully further our research is its own great reward.

We follow the Scientific Method as closely as we are able to; though it’s not always easy to create a fully controlled environment and the fact that true paranormal activity is sporadic and very rare means we don’t always have a lot to go on. Still, we do our best with what we have to work with at the time and go wherever it takes us.

We go to where the stories come from in order to see for ourselves. We talk to the people involved to get their sides to the occurrences.

Our conclusions are never really final and we find multiple return visits yield the best results; so have built up trusting relationships with quite a few locations within the historical communities in this country.

Our clean and respected reputation within historical circles is something the team prides itself on, as it has grown over the last decade and is based on well over 200 investigation sessions within that time.

For a full listing of References & testimonials, please visit our TESTIMONIALS page on this website.

Exploration – Observation – Experimentation – Documentation … Ultimately leading to Interaction, Understanding and Conclusion.

KEEPING IT REAL

Please check out our website and don’t hesitate to make contact if you have any queries or would like to know more about what we do.

We’re always happy to talk about spooks!

Through the years the team have investigated:

Auckland

Wellington

Northland

                                                                    Dargaville Central Hotel

Coromandel

Waikato

Hawkes Bay

Central North Island

  •                                                                Chateau Tongariro Hotel                                                               Jubilee Pavillion – Marton

 

Northern South Island

                                                                                 Trout Hotel

West Coast and Central South Island

  • Seaview Asylum
  • Otira Stagecoach Hotel

Canterbury

  • The Old Shipping Office (Akaroa)

Otago

  • Cardrona Hotel
  • Vulcan Hotel (St Bathans)

Dunedin

United Kingdom

  • The Drovers Inn – Scotland
  • Traquair House – Innerleithen
  • Ancient Ram Inn – Wooton-Under-Edge
  • 30 East Drive – Pontefract
  • Boleskine House – Scotland
  • Ballachulish Hotel – Glencoe
  • Chillingham Castle
  • The Golden Fleece – York
  • Bunchrew House – Scotland
  • Oswald House – Kirkcaldy
  • The Skirrid Inn – Abergavenny
  • Halston Hall – Carlisle
  • Airth Castle
  • Dalhousie Castle
  • Barcaldine Castle – Oban
  • The Witchery – Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Vaults – Scotland
  • Touchwood House – Scotland
  • Greyfriars Kirkyard – Scotland
  • The Hellfire Club – Ireland
  • Ostrich Inn – Slough
  • Caynton Caves –  Shropshire
  • Four Crosses Inn – Staffordshire
  • Torwood House – Scotland
  • Dalhousie Castle – Scotland
  • Windhouse – Yell, Shetland
  • Swan Hotel – Wooton-on-Edge
  • Weston Hall – Staffordshire
  • Clava Cairns – Inverness, Scotland
  • The Queen’s Head Hotel – Troutbeck
  • Haunted Antiques Paranormal Research Centre – Hinkley

Australia

YHA [Katoomba]

Hartley Village [NSW]

Quarantine Station [Manly]

The Russell Hotel [Sydney]

Maitland Gaol [NSW]

Kilmore Gaol [Melbourne]

Aradale Lunatic Asylum [Melbourne]

 

Hawaii

Kaniakapupu Palace Ruins – Nuúanu Pali – Manoa – Oahu Cemetery [Oahu]

Norfolk Island

New Gaol – The Crank Mill – Bloody Bridge

Cryptozoological Field Research

YOWIE RESEARCH: Blue Mountains [ Australia] – Kanangra Ranges [Australia] – Blue Mountains Exploration: Research Area – Bullaburra [Australia]

MOEHAU RESEARCH: Coromandel Ranges [New Zealand] – Urerewa Ranges [New Zealand]

LAKE MONSTER RESEARCH: Loch Ness [Scotland]

 

… as well as many private home visits around Auckland and surrounding towns and extensive investigation and exploration internationally.

Some of the services and experience we have on offer:

Research and Investigation of buildings, historical locations and businesses

Photo & video analysis

Photographic enhancements

General paranormal consultation

Historical Research

Conferences / Public speaking

Educational talks & fundraising for historical locations

Media interviews