It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gavin Gallagher, one of New Zealand’s pioneering paranormal researchers. Gavin passed away this morning due to cancer.
He was a member of Spooks Paranormal Investigators (SPI), a Christchurch-based team that formed around 2004-2005 and disbanded around 2009. Spooks was at the forefront of the emerging internet age of paranormal research in New Zealand, travelling around the South Island to investigate some of the country’s most well-known allegedly haunted locations. The team conducted approximately 80 investigations of potential hauntings each year and was in high demand for their work.
During that time, the paranormal scene was relatively small but gaining popularity, especially with the airing of shows like “Ghost Hunters” and “Most Haunted.”
Other notable teams of that era included the Strange Occurrences Society in Wellington (Still going today), Phoenix Paranormal in Palmerston North, and NZ Ghosthunters, based down in Nelson.
Spooks even gained a little television exposure themselves, appearing on well-known programs such as the prolific, “20/20” and the family-friendly “Pacific Beat.”
Originally from Neilston; a small village outside Glasgow, Scotland; Gavin moved with his family to New Zealand at the age of 10.
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From Gavin’s team bio:
With Scotland being steeped in a rich paranormal lore and history, ranging from the bloody hauntings of Glamis Castle to the myths and legends of the Bean Sidhe (the little people), Gavin too has had his share of potentially paranormal occurrences, with his old house providing some instances of unexplainable phenomena. From sightings of unusual figures, and uncomfortable feelings of not being alone in an otherwise empty house, to the property itself being struck by lightning, the house seemed to be a focal point for strange activity.
Since moving to New Zealand he has used his experiences and knowledge of paranormal lore to fuel his passion and curiosity for the subject, becoming a member of the (now defunct) paranormal investigation team Spooks. His academic studies include mathematics and astrophysics among other subjects, and though these studies have given him a keen scientific approach to investigations, like Mulder from the X-files, he very much wants to believe, he just needs to be convinced first.
Though preferring to enter and conduct investigations from a more sceptical viewpoint, he hopes to either explain whatever phenomena are being encountered with current scientific knowledge or attain the ‘holy grail’ of proving the existence of the paranormal via definitive scientific evidence. A win-win scenario in his opinion.
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More recently, Gavin had been working as a part of Encounters NZ, a UFO / Paranormal research trio, with his old Spooks teammate, Adam Lancaster.
Rest in Peace, Gavin.
I knew Gavin for a lengthy period of my life. He was always a true, good, genuine dude.
RIP Big Gav! Nothing but love to your family!