Latest Updates

Theatre Royal – Raetihi

Theatre Royal – Raetihi

Raetihi is a historic town in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is located 11 kilometres west of Ohakume. Founded in 1893, Raetihi originally relied on the Whanganui River for access. Nearly 15 years later, the town finally connected by road to Wanganui. The great fire of 1918

Sleeping with Demons

Sleeping with Demons

There are times when we will be called out to look into frightening accounts of regular, nightly torment from unknown, possibly demonic entities. These people seem genuinely scared, fragile and confused. They are often apprehensive about coming forward and making contact, and they fear ridicule from those who might not

The Sandringham Spectre

The Sandringham Spectre

It is said that in the early hours of the morning the apparition of a man in his 30’s can be seen standing in the middle of the intersection of Balmoral Road, Pine Street and Eldon Road. He manifests himself briefly each night at various times, and it is said

Dunback Inn: Overnight investigation with Dunedin Strange Occurrences Society – June 3rd 2023

Dunback Inn: Overnight investigation with Dunedin Strange Occurrences Society – June 3rd 2023

On Saturday, June 3rd, I (Mark) flew south to join up with paranormalist, Bruce Mahalski from Dunedin’s own chapter of the Strange Occurrences Society (and owner of the The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery), for an overnight investigative stay at the wonderfully rural, 1864 built Dunback Inn. Just a leisurely

Reviewing video footage – How I do it

Reviewing video footage – How I do it

We are often asked about how we review our footage. After a long overnight session, what is the process we use to analyze and review the video we have recorded? Well, in all honesty, I have to say there isn’t any best or easy way to do it. Having said

PSI Theories: Seeking the Sources

PSI Theories: Seeking the Sources

If you’ve caught one of my psi Theory posts previously then you’ll know these are the posts where I kind of download some of the ‘stuff’ floating around my head for you to read. How kind of me right? Hang on is it download or upload, never mind it’s not

Taniwha Art

Taniwha Art

As a researcher of Cryptids (mysterious and elusive animals that avoid study), I am fascinated by all rare creatures, be they considered folkloric or flesh and blood. I’m especially interested in lake and sea based cryptids. The Taniwha, are mythical creatures that sit firmly in Maori culture and tradition. They

Waimate Hospital, Waimate

Waimate Hospital, Waimate

A number of sod built cottages were built at Sodtown in the Waimate’s early days. The area became the site of Waimate Hospital. A cottage hospital was built on the site of former SOD TOWN in 1874-5. A larger building was erected in 1878. Dr Deane (from Blenheim) was appointed


Editor's Choice
The Ghosts of Meola Reef
The Ghosts of Meola Reef14/11/2021Haunted Locations / Urban LegendsMeola Reef, or Te Tokaroa in Māori, is a thin finger of lava flow forming a reef peninsula jutting out into the harbour between Western Springs and Point Chevalier, the larger part of which is a dog park and reserve. The reef extends for over 2 kilometres across the harbour, to within 500 metres of Kauri Point on the northern shore. The reef was formed more than 28,000 years ago from the final portion of an 11 kilometre lava flow that originated from Mount Saint John volcano. Until 2008 it was believed the lava had flowed from Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta volcano, but geochemical analyses that year revealed that the lava matched that of Mount Saint John. The reef is easily seen in the west from the Auckland Harbour Bridge at low tide, when much of it lies exposed. The best viewpoint is at Kauri Point, the headland to the east of Kendall Bay. The portion of the reef close to shore is covered by mangroves, and further out the rocks are covered by rock oysters, then bare. The reef area and connecting Meola Park have been areas where there have been sightings of lone figures seen standing out in the water or far out at the unreachable tip. Standing on rocks, then disappearing from view. Locals have mentioned the reef being the site of a few drownings through the years. One being an adventurous walker attempting to make it from one side to the other one evening, getting stuck in mud and drowning as the tide crept in. Thus far we haven’t been able to verify this incident. ‘ ‘Cries for help” or ”a woman screaming’‘ have been heard at night, though it has been surmised that it may have been a misheard Pukeko, or some other native bird of the area. Others have experienced a very uneasy feeling whilst standing out by the water’s edge while out walking at night. Like ”there are many eyes watching from the surrounding bushes”. [...] Read more...
Under renovations, Freemans Bay. Auckland
Under renovations, Freemans Bay. Auckland26/07/2017Locations of InterestStately but faded, this once-glorious historical home has been a long-standing presence on a massive 1246 square-meter site in Auckland’s central suburb of Freemans Bay, perched atop a large section alongside a huge mature pohutukawa tree. The interior of the home, which boasts many original character features, including a grand staircase, fireplaces, entry foyer, timber floors and high ceilings, also needs major renovation. Work is underway on the site, but the grand old dame is not being demolished. She is getting the facelift of the century. Consent has been granted to relocate the now historically recognised and registered 1880s Victorian architectural gem on the property, allowing for a single-level addition. The years have taken their toll on the house’s architectural facade, which now looks worn, its paint peeling and faded. The weatherboard cladding is rotting; the formerly magnificent turret has rusted and windows are painted over and boarded up.   The two-storey statement villa home was originally owned by a successful merchant and Auckland Deputy Mayor Andrew Entrican. It’s second owner was businessman MP Captain William Crush Daldy; the tugboat named after him is still enjoying its own long semi-retirement at Devonport Wharf. In the 1940s a Maori Trust bought the property and the house became a boarding house for girls attending local colleges. For 70 years it was known as Te Kainga Aroha, before it was put up for sale in 2014 over mounting maintenance costs. Some of its voluminous rooms were partitioned to create additional spaces, and there is still schoolgirl graffiti on the wardrobes. The house featured in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople as the home Uncle Hec, played by Sam Neill, stayed at towards the end of the film.   I spoke to the owner, who tells me they purchased the house three years ago but have been unable to touch it due to all the ongoing council red tape and a seemingly endless stream of fees and paperwork. Work is now underway to slowly and delicately roll the house forward onto its new foundations a few meters from is original position. [...] Read more...
Return to Rookwood Cemetery & Necropolis, Sydney
Return to Rookwood Cemetery & Necropolis, Sydney26/05/2015Australia / Investigations / InvestigationsThe largest cemetery in the Southern Hemisphere, Rookwood Cemetery (also called Rookwood Necropolis) is the final resting place for approximately over one million people. For more details on this amazing cemetery, check out our original post from our first visit. [...] Read more...
Riccarton Racecourse Hotel – Christchurch
Riccarton Racecourse Hotel – Christchurch16/01/2014Haunted LocationsThe Riccarton Racecourse Hotel is considered to be one of the most haunted places in New Zealand. It is said that the ghost of former licensee Donald Fraser walks the corridors of the hotel looking for his killer. In 1933, Fraser was murdered in the dead of night in his bedroom, where his wife was sleeping, by two blasts from a double-barrelled shotgun. Despite investigations, nobody was found guilty of the crime. The Riccarton Hotel Murder A particularly cold-blooded murder at the Racecourse Hotel, Riccarton, Christchurch, created a sensation in November 1933, but despite the existence of several very much compromised suspects, no one was ever brought to book for the crime. The 41-year-old licensee of the hotel, Donald Fraser, was killed in the middle of the night in his bedroom, where his wife was asleep, by two blasts from a double-barrelled shotgun. The movements and circumstances of everyone in the house at the time, and of guests at a party held in the hotel earlier in the evening, were checked and rechecked, but without the disclosure of any evidence upon which a definite charge could be laid. Suspicions were early aroused, and although these deepened with the progress of the inquiry, there was never enough evidence to convince a jury. The murder became a public sensation and the police hunt was followed with avid interest. Rewards were offered for information, but the right sort of information was not forthcoming. One thing the police established was that the shotgun shells used in the killing had been purchased on the West Coast, but it could not be discovered by whom. At the conclusion of a lengthy hearing, the Coroner returned a verdict of “murder by a person or persons unknown”, but he had something to say on the reliability of the evidence tendered to him. Some of the witnesses had undoubtedly been truthful, he said, but his concluding remark was: “I leave to public estimation the rest of the evidence”. From www.teara.govt.nz [...] Read more...
Famous Flora’s Brothel – Pitt St, Auckland City
Famous Flora’s Brothel – Pitt St, Auckland City24/07/2021Haunted Locations / Hauntings / Historic Buildings / Hotels and Businesses / Locations of InterestFamous Flora’s, one of Auckland’s most colourful and dynamic brothels, had occupied a building on Pitt Street for over 30 years when it closed in 2008. Established by Ron King, it was later taken over by his daughter, Lyn Kingsnorth, and her brother Roy. Kingsnorth remembers dropping in to visit her father at his place of work when she was a child. The business was named after the well-known madam Flora MacKenzie, who established her sex business in Auckland in the 1940s. Flora MacKenzie is one of the most colourful characters in New Zealand history: A hard drinking, hard talking brothel owner from the 1960s and 70s who won the affection of sex workers, police and punters alike. Ms McKenzie was the country’s most infamous madam, earning an entry in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. She trained as a nurse and became an accomplished dress designer for Auckland’s upper crust before entering the world of prostitution in the 1940s. Her father purchased a block of flats at Ring Tce in St Marys Bay. Her home was legendary and rumoured to have a rotating bed upstairs with panoramic harbour views. She operated the illegal brothel up until her death in 1982. The alcoholic was rumoured to have left her premises to the man who delivered her weekly crate of whisky, and her money went to the deaf. Between 1962 and 1976, Ms McKenzie appeared in court six times on brothel-keeping charges and was twice jailed for six months, according to her entry by criminologist Dr Jan Jordan. Stories had circulated for years about the alleged paranormal activity within the low-lit walls. Wine glasses would fly from the bar, chairs would tip over and apparitions were seen in the early hours by sex workers and staff. It was in popular agreement that the building was haunted by a client who had died while enjoying the services on offer, whilst others believed the spirit of Flora lived on, keeping a watchful eye over her girls. [...] Read more...
Occidental Hotel/Perry’s Occidental Hotel – Christchurch
Occidental Hotel/Perry’s Occidental Hotel – Christchurch30/06/2022Haunted Locations / Paranormal New ZealandBuilt-in 1861 and designed by Samuel Coleridge Farr (1827-1918) at 208 Hereford St, Perry’s Occidental Hotel and livery stables were popular with the wives and families of the members of the nearby 1862 Christchurch Club. The hotel became known as the Occidental in 1889. The house contains thirty-five rooms, including the large dining room, a commercial room, and several private sitting rooms. It is handsomely furnished throughout, and every attention is paid to the comfort and convenience of guests. There were stories that the 35-room hotel in the middle of town was haunted by the ghost of Jane Jollie, the wife of Captain Francis Jollie of Peel Forest, who died while a guest at the hotel in 1869. Renowned author Janet Frame was a housemaid/waitress at the Occidental in 1947. By 1998 it turned into a backpackers hotel and soon after started to become very run-down. It closed in August 2006. The Occidental Hotel was demolished in 2011. [...] 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 a Paranormal Investigation and Research group based in Auckland, New Zealand.  It is also an extensive and much-viewed resource site covering all that is paranormal and mysterious in New Zealand and beyond.

Whether you’ve been aware of Mark Wallbank’s research work since the 1980s, attended his early 90s discussion events, received the twice-yearly newsletters, subscribed to his popular mid-2000s online blog BizarreNZ, followed the H.A team since 2010, attended our public events and talks, 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 Paranormal NZ (Formerly Haunted Auckland). We are 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.

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

Team Evolution Timeline

1984 – Auckland Ghost Hunting Group

Independent / Solo Research

2003 – 2010  – BizarreNZ

2010 – 2023 – Haunted Auckland

Changed team name to Paranormal New Zealand in 2023

What we aren’t:

We aren’t Ghost Busters, Ghost Hunters, Exorcists, Mediums, Clairvoyants or Psychics and we don’t do clearings, blessings or rid 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 even 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
  • Lumley Castle – County Durham

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 – Kaneana Cave (Makua Cave)

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