On a section of the very affluent Takapuna Beach coastline, often frequented by walkers doing the popular leisurely Takapuna walkway, is a short, decommissioned road.
Named Tiri Road, it still shows on maps but is no longer used as a road. Due to erosion, the road that existed was demolished into the sea, but it remains listed even though it can no longer be accessed by car and is now nothing but a well-used footpath.
Along this walkway, right next to the Takapuna Wastewater Pumping Station No. 6, is a small area of bedrock jutting out into the bay. Thorne Bay, to be precise. Originally named Minnehaha Bay after the holiday home that William Thorne, built on the shore in the 1880s. Thorne was the son of early Auckland settlers and served two years in the Māori Wars before becoming a well-regarded Auckland barrister and solicitor. Thorne died on 11 August 1922 in Epsom. His house’s name survives in nearby Minnehaha Avenue.
The rocks are often used as a platform by casual fishing enthusiasts out for a relaxing cast hoping for a hungry Kawhai or two. It is on these rocks that there are reports of shadowy figures, seen standing, looking out into the sea. One moment there, the next, disappeared. Shouts of panic or anguish have also been heard in the dark of night, like someone had fallen and was injured, or maybe struggling out in the water. I read a story a few years back on an online discussion forum, of a boy fishing with his father, shocked to have someone ”yell” in his ear. Spinning around, there was no one there. He swore it was a man’s voice and that he wasn’t mistaken.
There are numerous reports of drownings in this area and a few of people being knocked off the rocks by a powerful freak wave. Drownings along the Takapuna Beach coastline are not a rare occurrence, unfortunately, and happen almost yearly.
Set back, under the shelter and shade of a very old Pohutukawa tree, is a bench for the public to sit on. It was placed in tribute. On the chair are two small plaques displayed in memory of a few that had frequented the chair often, to sit and spend time looking out to sea. I won’t post the names here, as I don’t feel it’s appropriate or relevant, at this stage.
Whether this has any connection to the figures seen on the rocks, or the screams at night, is anyone’s guess.
I’d been hearing stories about the mysterious activity for a couple of years but never followed up on them. It’s the Christmas holidays and I’m off work for a couple of weeks, so I figured it was time to at the very least, visit and document the area for my files.
It’s not really something we can investigate, as the sightings aren’t common, quite sporadic and rare and do not follow any pattern as yet. I wanted to photograph the area to get a feel for the lay of the land. I could certainly see how the rock could be dangerous to be standing on when the tide is in.
We would like to hear from anyone who has seen anything unusual while in the area, or may have heard any stories from friends or relatives. We are hoping to build up a timeline to see if any patterns emerge so that we might be able to set up some sort of surveillance system in preparation for it happening again. I have spoken to one of the property owners that overlook the area and they are happy to let us use their property as a vantage point for a surveillance camera or two if needed.
