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What are your thoughts on the theory that ghosts are actually inter-dimensional travellers?

What are your thoughts on the theory that ghosts are actually inter-dimensional travellers?

This is what we spend half our time trying to determine as paranormal investigators. What happens when we die? Is there an afterlife and what form does it take? What exists beyond our known reality? Why do some souls/spirits (which we tend to refer to as ghosts) seem to linger

Private Residence, Howick

Private Residence, Howick

An expecting couple calls the team to investigate their Howick home where light anomalies, uneasy feelings and unusual behaviour from pets has them concerned they may not be the only ones inhabiting the property.

Serenity in the North

Serenity in the North

Derelict House – Morrinsville

Derelict House – Morrinsville

Sitting alone on a corner at the entry road to the Morrinville Refuse Station are the abandoned remnants of this old farm house. This iconic piece of real estate is one of the regions most photographed old buidings.

The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui – Britain’s very own Bigfoot?

The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui – Britain’s very own Bigfoot?

Ben MacDhui’s principal claim to fame is that, at 4296 ft (1309 m), it is the highest mountain in the Cairngorms range and is second only to Ben Nevis throughout Scotland. However, it is also famous – indeed, infamous – as Scotland’s ‘haunted mountain’, thanks to the sinister, ostensibly supernatural

The Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge ghost

The Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge ghost

The Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge No. 98 was founded in 1869 for the Freemasons of Cromwell, with the Lodge building constructed in 1900. The Lodge is a small but impressive building, constructed of local stone set in the old part of Cromwell, immediately adjoining ‘Old Cromwell Town’ which is the surviving

Let’s start taking it seriously for 2019.

Let’s start taking it seriously for 2019.

Ok, this needs to be said. I’ve spent some of my time off, watching various paranormal team investigation videos on You Tube. Skimmed through about 10 in the past few nights. One thing they all had in common, which I found frustrating and if I’m honest, embarassing. They all contained

Kumi Lizard – NZ’s Giant Enigmatic Lizards

Kumi Lizard – NZ’s Giant Enigmatic Lizards

There are 90 species of lizards currently known in New Zealand. Most are not of any impressionable size and yet from Captain Cook’s first arrival in New Zealand, strange tales of large lizards have been passed down to fairly recent times. One of these lizards, the Kumi lizard, was apparently

School’s out (in the field)

School’s out (in the field)

A little cottage (or perhaps and old School House?) sitting in a horse paddock I passed by while heading out South one weekend.  

Seaview Psychiatric Hospital – Hokitika

Seaview Psychiatric Hospital – Hokitika

 

Editor's Choice
The ghost with no name
The ghost with no name07/01/2021Hauntings / Opinions and Theories / True Ghost StoriesWhen my daughter turned one, we moved into a deceased estate, complete with a wildly overgrown garden, multiple extensions and the smell of a year of emptiness. Despite that, the house felt warm and welcoming and we continued to smile and say that we couldn’t believe how lucky we were to have such an amazing home. We lived there for about a year, contentedly tidying the gardens, and watching our daughter grow. One morning, I woke at dawn, facing the bedroom door and noticed that it seemed to be slowly opening inwards. I watched for what felt like 30 seconds and confirmed that it did seem to be moving! I rubbed my eyes to check I wasn’t dreaming, then turned the light on my phone and continued to watch. The door opened completely, remained open for what felt like a few seconds then slowly closed completely, with the quiet click of the lock. Thinking it odd, I made a mental note to follow up later in the day, then rolled over and went back to sleep! That afternoon, I spoke to my friend in Australia who “just knows things”. She had visited a month prior. I asked her outright if she had sensed anything when visiting my home. Her response shocked me; “oh the ghost in the nighty? Yeah, she’s lovely”. She continued to tell me that the ghost lady would walk past my daughter’s room, look in and check she was sleeping, then move to our room, check on us, then walk up the hallway before disappearing up some stairs above the washing machine. She told me she was a kind woman who loved having a family round and that’s why the house felt so warm and welcoming to us. Keen to know more about the previous occupants, I went to the council, but like many cases, the older files had been lost in a fire and the records only went back to the 1950s. I posted on a local Facebook site, asking if anyone had any idea how to find out about the previous occupants of a house. That was where I met a lovely lady who offered to pop round to help me with my search. Upon arrival in my driveway, she cocked her head to the side, gazing at the paint chipped exterior of my bungalow with a puzzled look and told me “that’s weird… your house is showing me it has an upstairs?” The woman walked around my home saying nothing. There were no photos up on the wall, nothing to give many clues about us to help her with a possible cold reading. All she knew was that I wanted to know about the past occupants. She then suggested that I record what she said, “as the words often come out really fast!” and boy was she right! I sat trying to look a po-faced as possible as she told me about a young woman in a white lace nightgown, with a candle, who walked from the lounge, checking in on my daughter as she slept, then on us, before walking to near the washing machine. Back then, that area had stairs going upstairs to a second level where she slept. Her description was exactly the same as my friend. I asked if she had a name for the lady, I was told that the lady had a job for me to do and wanted me to work it out for myself! I decided that I would check out the local museum, to see if they may have some old photos or information and made an appointment to talk to the Curator. I explained my situation somewhat guardedly – after all, who wants to admit that a ghost has sent you on a mission to find out who they are! By sheer fluke, or ghostly knowledge perhaps, the Curator’s father built the house next door to mine in the early twentieth century and as a girl, she had played in the garden of my house! She confirmed, that yes, my house DID in fact have an upstairs! However, the family that lived there at the time were the same people I had found on the council records. So still a dead end on the ghost’s name. I started to talk out loud to the ghost lady, telling her about my day and asking for help when I needed to find items. Often, they would appear within the next few minutes in an obvious place that I had already looked several times. I would regularly see a shadow out of the corner of my eye, but never felt scared. I tried to focus on a possible name for the ghost, often settling on the name Clara. But something told me that wasn’t quite right. Determined to keep on with my search, I began volunteering at the museum, so I had time to lazily search through old photos and records. That was how I discovered images of Clarence, the owner at the time the curator lived there. Across the road from my house was a lovely cemetery which I liked to meander through on a warm evening stroll. One day, I sat down on a bench to tie my shoelace. Upon looking up, in front of me was a gravestone – it belonged to Clarence and his wife, Clara. Until then, I had not known her name. I was initially excited to realize where the name had come from in my mind. But then I realized, I was no closer to finding the ghost’s name! I returned to my home and as I stood looking out my bedroom window, talking to no one in particular, I realized that you could clearly see Clarence and Clara’s headstone from my home. Further record searching suggested that Clara lived in the house until she died. I asked my friend in Australia about Clarence and Clara and whether the ghost lady was his wife. Had I found out her name? No. I still had a job to do – but I was closer! I again looked through council records and historical documents and discovered that when the extension was placed on the back of our house, the roofline was lowered and widened – this was when the ghost’s bedroom was destroyed. After seeing one too many horror movies, I decided the sensible thing was to crawl under the house and into the attic to see if I could find anything. Underneath the house provided some ancient rubbish and several scraped knees, but nothing significant. The attic revealed a false ceiling above the bathroom and hallway, the walls still had very-old floral wallpaper on them. I sat up there, talking to the ghost lady and telling her about all I had found out about Clarence and Clara and the house. The original part of the house was part of a separate lodgings building at a local public house as part of a historical legal spat between landlords. Once the pub was closed, a portion the size of my bedroom, was transported to the site and extended in the 1890s with a second room. It was extended again by Clarence in the early 1900s to add another 2 rooms for his growing family, a modern out-house and a sunroom. Finally, the kitchen and a fully internal bathroom were added in the 1980s. I suspected the ghost lived there in the late 1800s, directly before Clarence. Despite finding out all about the house, I still didn’t have a name! A few years later, we moved out. I was sad to leave our resident spirit. I explained why we were moving and suggested that she might like to move towards the light, if that is what she wanted to do. I apologized that I still had not learned her name…but I would keep on searching. And I still do. And that job she wanted me to do? Well, I think I finally worked out what it was! Earlier this year, I was invited to join Haunted Auckland, after following in the side-lines for over 6 years. And the first location I was asked to investigate? The local museum I had volunteered at! I’d love to tell you that I have discovered her name, but I haven’t. But speaking to her and living alongside her, gave me a genuine innate understanding that all spirits were once people and should be spoken to as such. My job is to continue speaking to these spirits and finding out about their lives, their stories and messages, whilst appreciating, that we all live with the multiple pasts that surround us. And one day, maybe I will find out her name…but only when she wants me to!   [...] Read more...
The Leviathan Hotel – Dunedin. Investigation 2 – June 4th 2022
The Leviathan Hotel – Dunedin. Investigation 2 – June 4th 202204/06/2022Haunted Locations / Historic Buildings / Hotels and Businesses / Investigations / Paranormal New ZealandWhen the Leviathan Railway Temperance Hotel was built in 1884 it was situated beside the harbour, beside the original railway station, on land, which had been reclaimed from the harbour, with rock dumped during the flattening of Bell Hill. With 150 bedrooms, the Leviathan was then reputed to be the largest hotel in Australasia. The name Leviathan originates from the book of Revelations in the Bible and is used to describe a huge creature usually of the sea. There were big changes in the 1950s around the time when the Queen came to Dunedin soon after her coronation. The Leviathan Hotel was extensively ”modernised” with most of the original ornate exterior being removed, and the dining room renovated. The 150 rooms were reduced to 75 rooms by making each alternate room into an ensuite. There are thought to be numerous ghosts residing in this labyrinth-like beast of a landmark. On the third floor of the hotel it is reputed that a ghost of an unknown lady lives. Many staff that have worked here acknowledge its existence. Their experiences range from a cool and spooky feeling, to glasses of water appearing and disappearing, doors opening and closing, floors squeaking from footsteps or your name being called but with nobody there. She is a nice ghost, and the general view is that it is Mrs Antiss Silk, forever watchful of her charge. Mrs Silk was the second owner of the leviathan. Antiss ruled the Leviathan with an iron. hand. All staff had daily uniform inspections and woe betide anyone who was caught misbehaving. It is as though she is still there, running the hotel and keeping everyone in line. Other alleged ghosts there, are a former Chambermaid, and a young girl that is sometimes seen and heard running along the various long corridors and playing on the stairs Haunted Auckland was last granted access back in 2015, so it was great to get back there again to spend more time. [...] Read more...
The House on Cressy Terrace – Lyttelton
The House on Cressy Terrace – Lyttelton06/09/2022Haunted Locations / Paranormal New Zealand / True Ghost Stories / Urban LegendsAn old 1900s-built house in Cressy Terrace, in Lyttelton, is believed to be haunted and is quite known to the locals. The house was originally built as a home for a former caretaker of the old orphanage, prior to 1906. In 1933, the building was renovated and given a ”rebirth”, as the new Lyttelton Maternity Hospital. Through the years the house was used as a rest home and boarding house. Former residents have told stories of loud, rowdy ghosts ”stomping up and down the hallway and yelling at each other” causing the neighbors to become concerned, thinking they were having a ”domestic”. There are rumors that there have been past suicides by hanging in the house and numerous anecdotes of encounters with dark spirits in the hallways at night. [...] Read more...
Smith & Caughey’s Department Store
Smith & Caughey’s Department Store06/09/2012Hotels and BusinessesThe team checks out one of Auckland’s oldest department stores to find out what lurks in its subterranean labyrinth of storerooms. History Marianne Smith was a gentle lady if not stern who was a woman very much ahead of her time. She was born Mary Anne Caughey, in Ireland in 1851, her father a grocer, mother a homemaker. She met her future husband William Smith through her older brother Andrew as they worked together in a drapery store. The newlyweds, married in 1874, moved to New York City and William worked in a Drapery Store. Marianne spent her time helping at the famous mission in Water Street run by the evangelist Jerry MacAuley and at the Door of Hope, a refuge for single mothers. Returning to Belfast around 1879 the Smiths started a charitable mission in a poor part of the city, but William’s health deteriorated and they decided to emigrate to New Zealand. The couple arrived in Auckland in early 1880 and Marianne opened Smith’s Cheap Drapery Warehouse on Queen Street. Because the new firm could not support both husband and wife, William initially worked for another draper, but by 1881 Marianne’s store was doing so well William was able to join her. In 1884, Andrew Caughey who had also emigrated to Auckland, was with the Methodist ministry and went into partnership with William, the firm was then called Smith & Caughey. The omission of Marianne from the partnership reflects the role of the married women at that time, but she remained vitally involved in the business. Whilst still being involved in their charity and missionary work they continued to run the store. In 1900, William and Andrew had formed a limited liability company. Although Marianne was not one of 8 directors, she did have shares in the growing company. During one of William and Marianne’s buying trips back to England in 1908/09, they informally adopted a son, Reginald. William died in 1912, leaving Marianne a wealthy widow with a small child. She withdrew from active mission work about this time, but retained a strong interest in Smith and Caughey. In 1916 she joined the board as a director (a position she held until her death in 1938) and always attended meetings. She increasingly identified as a Caughey and was often referred to as Mrs Caughey Smith. She still continued to donate charitable gifts. The Riots in April 1932, on Queen Street, caused all the glass windows to be broken. Architect Roy Lippincott designed the new building and the new front facade in Queen St. This was completed in 1940. In September 1932, Marianne married the Reverend Raymond Preston, a retired Methodist minister from Sydney. He was 71, she was 81. In June 1935, Marianne was made an MBE for recognition of her charity work and sizeable donations. 1 September 1938, Marianne Preston died at her Princes Street home. She was survived by her second husband and estranged son. A trust she established holds nearly half the shares of Smith & Caugheys and administers to the Caughey-Preston Rest Homes and other properties. Four generations of Caugheys still own and run the department stores.   Investigation Haunted Auckland was brought in to investigate the basement & sixth floor levels of the Smith and Caugheys building. The group conducted an alternating 2 team, level 2, ‘Class two’ investigation. Attending this investigation were Mark, Tanya, Barbara, Kel, Matthew, Heather and the Store Manager’s daughter, Lauren. Grant took one team up to the sixth floor ballroom and were advised that this was a “Ladies Only” floor in the 1930’s. This was a well-kept secret, but with the background that Marianne Caughey Smith had, she would have had this floor available for single women, married women and as a sanctuary for the abused and mistreated ladies of that era. We split into 2 teams, Kel, Barbara and Matthew stayed on the sixth floor while Mark, Tanya, Heather and Lauren went to investigate the basement.   The Lyceum Club (a.k.a. The Ballroom) During our session of the upstairs top floor, our group conducted a full photographic, infrared video and audio sweep of the entire floor, including all the side rooms, hallway, back storage rooms and toilets. Mark, Tanya, Heather and Lauren held a couple of EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) sessions, one in the main ‘dance hall’ room and a brief one up on the stage. Tanya commented during the EVP session in the main dance hall, that she could hear something coming from the other end of the room near the stage. Heather also thought she had heard a sound. Kel, Matthew and Barbara held their own EVP sessions hoping to contact the spirit that had been sighted there by an employee recently. During one of the sessions, Kel said she felt that something was beside her and that there was a cold spot there. Barbara went over to where Kel had indicated it was to try to confirm that there was a cold spot, but couldn’t feel it. As Barbara walked back to her seat she felt a small draught go past her. Matthew felt it could have been caused by a nearby fireplace, but it was not from that direction. After Barbara had sat down Kel said she had her hair touched. They asked whoever had done it, to touch Barbara. A few minutes later Barbara felt the hair at the nap of her neck being ‘touched’ very gently. Barbara had the sensation both of her hair moving and of movement on the back of her neck. After mentioning it to the others, they asked whoever it was to please touch Matthew, the more sceptical of those present. Imagine our surprise when a few minutes later, Matthew said he had the sensation of a ‘tickle’ on the back his neck. Whilst in the hallway, Kel, our “sensitive” was able to receive a lot of ‘communication’, talking and whispering at the same time. There were multiple conversations. She asked ‘them’ to stop talking at once. Kel was asked “What are you doing here?” She replied “We have come to say hi”. Kel was then questioned, “Why?” She replied “We are curious and would like to talk to you.” Kel could not pick up if the entity was female or male. While Kel was in the kitchen she felt the presence of a woman. When she asked her name, the entity replied Maraina. (Was this Marianne herself making contact with Kel?) Kel could visualise that Maraina was dressed with a thin head band around her forehead with a peacock feather sticking out at the back. She had a white short dress on with a vest with patterned peacock feathers. Since Kel was the only one to sense this, perhaps she had psychically witnessed a time gone by. Where dancing at high tea was a favourable pass time?   The Basement (a.k.a. Inward Goods Dept) Whilst Barbara, Matthew and Kel were conducting their investigation, Mark, Tanya, Heather and Lauren headed down to the basement level below the main department store levels.  This is where the inwards goods deliveries, stock control, product storage and sorting takes place. On a daily work day there are around 30 staff working on the basement level. Grant (the Manager) showed us the inter-room escape tunnels built during the 1940’s in case of invasion during the war. Below the main department store is a maze of ‘underground’ tunnels and walkways heading in all directions, which we found rather disorienting sometimes, especially in the dark! In the basement level area, where an alleged apparition has been sighted many times by staff, we noted a very large electrical voltage box power generator which apparently fed the entire department store.  This filled an entire wall in its length and to the ceiling in its height. The EMF (Electro-Magnetic Field) Meter was off the scale showing that the electrical field being emitted by this beast was very high. This would’ve been enough of an electrical field to trigger off headaches, sickness, paranoia, uneasy feelings and even hallucinations, if enough time was spent around that area. We also noticed that there were power cables coming from the power generator, branching out along the ceiling to cover other departments around the underground maze workplace. Further along in the basement we held a short E.V.P. session. At one point we heard footsteps walking across overhead and then what sounded like the creaking of an old iron gate. We were told later by Grant the Manager that the security man had walked across the level above us and had locked a door behind him. The sound of young children’s voices playing was also briefly heard. Heather felt there may have been a playground or crèche in the building there at some point as there was a painting of a large fish on the floor. Heather expressed feelings of being touched around her neck by an icy cold sensation. Tanya thought she heard the sound of a dog. All members in our group heard a short rattle / shuffling noise coming from somewhere in our area, soon after the ‘children’ sound. It sounded like the chicken mesh wire on the timber-framed walls, being, knocked or shaken briefly. While Kel and Barbara were in the basement with Matthew they both thought they heard a woman’s voice say something but this was not picked up by the audio recorders at the time. Barbara both felt the sensation of being followed.   Cash Room Just before we concluded this investigation we briefly visited the Cash Room, where an apparition had been seen by employees but our equipment and attempt at communication yielded no results. Conclusion Quoted by our team leader Mark: “In my opinion, I feel that if there is any spiritual or paranormal based entity or presence within the Smith and Caughey’s building it would be purely residual. The essence, sound or energy of the large numbers or staff and patrons that would have been within its walls and through its doors through the many generations, might surely have imprinted itself within the building’s structure.  If so, it may be these ‘essences’ that are being seen, heard or felt. Alternatively, a more mundane and scientific explanation could be that the activity could all just be caused by the high electrical fields that were detected within the building during our session.  Either way, The Smith and Caughey’s Building is a stunning piece of real estate with many stories to tell. It was a true honour and a privilege to be allowed rare access into this iconic and historic piece of Auckland royalty.” [...] Read more...
Erskine College, Wellington
Erskine College, Wellington02/12/2016Abandoned Buildings / Haunted Locations / InvestigationsHistory Erskine College in Wellington built from 1905 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, is a collection of Class 1 recognised historic buildings which include the Chapel of the Sacred Heart and the Main Block Convent. The premises served as a Catholic girls’ boarding school; Convent of the Sacred Heart at Island Bay, until its closure in 1985. With a similarly named, Sacred Heart College, in nearby Lower Hutt, a decision to rename the building in the late 1960s eventuated. The name was changed to Erskine College, after Mother Janet Erskine Stuart, the 5th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart. A few potential buyers have surfaced through the years though none have settled, due to the building’s positioning and its current decaying condition. The sad state of Erskine makes it a serious earthquake risk, which these days, with most historical locations is an unfortunate death knell. The Chapel has been described as “an example of French Gothic architecture with German stained glass windows, an Italian marble altar, and vaulted ceiling.” Reported Haunting Erskine was used in Peter Jackson’s 1996 Horror Comedy movie, The Frighteners; which starred Michael J Fox. So, is the place haunted? Well, there are plenty of rumours and theories abound about the place. Apparitions have been witnessed. Voices are heard, fleeting shadows are glimpsed and odd bangs and taps can be heard. Mediums have spoken of the building being haunted by both children and adults. Some firmly believe that Erskine is haunted by the old Mother Superior There are rumours about a mysterious blood stain on the chapel floor that allegedly reappears soon after being removed, apparently as a reminder of a young girl’s untimely passing. Photo Gallery   [...] Read more...
Patupaiarehe
Patupaiarehe05/10/2015Kiwi CryptidsIn Māori tradition patupaiarehe, also known as tūrehu and pakepakehā, were fairy-like creatures of the forests and mountain tops. Although they had some human attributes, patupaiarehe were regarded not as people but as supernatural beings. They were seldom seen, and an air of mystery and secrecy still surrounds them. In most traditions, those who encountered patupaiarehe were able to understand their language. But in one account they were unintelligible. Physical features Patupaiarehe had light skin, and red or fair hair. Historian James Cowan was told that ‘they were a lighter complexion than Maori; their hair was of a dull golden or reddish hue, urukehu, such as is sometimes seen in Maori of today.’ Unlike Māori, they were never tattooed. Mohi Tūrei of Ngāti Porou described their skin as white, albino or the colour of red ochre. Their eye colour varied from light blue to black. There is still debate about their height. The Tūhoe tribe records that they were small, but others say they were similar in size to humans. Whanganui stories claim them to be giants, more than 2 metres tall. Where did they live? Patupaiarehe were generally found deep in the forests, or on mist-covered hilltops. In these isolated places they settled and built their homes, sometimes described as forts. In some stories their houses and pa were built from swirling mist. In others, they were made from kareao (supplejack vine). In the North Island they were said to live mainly in the Waikato–Waipā basin, the Cape Colville–Te Aroha range, the hills about Rotorua, the Urewera ranges and Wairoa districts, and the Waitākere ranges in the Auckland region. South Island traditions had them living mainly in the hills around Lyttelton Harbour, Akaroa and the Tākitimu range, and in the hills between the Arahura River and Lake Brunner. What kind of people were they? Patupaiarehe society was kinship-based, similar to Māori society. In 1894 Hoani Nahe, an elder of the Ngāti Maru people, recalled three sub-tribes of patupaiarehe: Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Korakorako, and Ngāti Tūrehu. Tahurangi, Whanawhana, and Nukupori were important chiefs. They were generally a closed group who shunned intruders, and were unfriendly to those who ventured into their midst. Patupaiarehe were hunters and gatherers, surviving on raw forest foods and sometimes fishing from the shores of the sea or a lake. Their canoes were made of kōrari (flax stalks). Cooked food was offensive or foul to them. In different traditions, albino birds and eels, red flax and red eels were considered their property, and trouble befell Māori who took any of these. Fearing the light, they were active mainly in the twilight hours and at night, or when the mist was heavy enough to shield them. They wore flax garments (pākērangi), dyed red, but also rough mats (pora or pūreke). They were also known for playing kōauau and pūtōrino (flutes). Written by Martin Wikaira. ‘Patupaiarehe – Patupaiarehe and ponaturi’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand [...] 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