This article by Mark Wallbank is brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand - Investigating Ghosts, Cryptids, UFOs, Urban Legends and Forgotten Histories of Aotearoa
This article by Mark Wallbank was brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand.
This article by Mark Wallbank is brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand - Investigating Ghosts, Cryptids, UFOs, Urban Legends and Forgotten Histories of Aotearoa
Clyde is located in an area known as The Dunstan, named by an English surveyor, John Turnbull Thomson. He was the second white man to enter the region in the spring of 1857. It is believed he used the name Dunstan because the mountains reminded him of his birthplace in England where Dunstan means “a stone on the hill” Thomson was probably inspired by the schist tors dominating the landscape.
Originally known as Upper Dunstan, Clyde like many Central Otago towns and settlements owes its existence to gold which was discovered in the region in 1861. Two miners, American-born Horatio Hartley and an Irish immigrant to the United States, Christopher Reilly, tried their luck near the entrance to the gorge where Clyde now lies.
Their fabulous gold strike in 1862 started the Dunstan Gold Rush and within a year up to 40,000 miners were digging along the banks of the Clutha River, then known as the Molyneux . By the end of the first year, the field had yielded close to 2,000 kilograms (70,000 ounces) of gold. By about 1870 traditional mining methods at the Dunstan field came to an end and gold was extracted by sluicing and dredging companies (at one stage about 30 dredges operated on the Clutha River between Clyde and Alexandra).
Although Clyde began life as a “canvas” town, permanent structures started to appear within a few years when the occupants of tent sites were given the opportunity to buy the title to their land. In May, 1865 the Post Office officially adopted the name Clyde, named after Lord Clyde, the Commander of the British forces during the Indian Mutiny. A year later it was proclaimed a municipality after sixty-one people signed a petition calling for local government representation. The town was the administrative centre for the district until 1989 when it was relocated to nearby Alexandra.
The construction of the Clyde Dam during the 1970’s and 1980’s had a major impact on the town. Many new people came to live in the area and with the flooding of the Cromwell Gorge to fill the dam, the area lost one of its beautiful landscapes. However the newly created Lake Dunstan is now a major recreational asset.
Built in 1900, Dunstan House is located on the main street of historic Clyde. From the original weary travellers stepping off the Cobb & Co stage coach; to the more recent cyclists at the beginning or end of the Central Otago Rail Trail.
There have been a few reports of a possible spectral resident come our way through the years. Some staying there have mentioned seeing a misty white apparition on the stairs, (which to them looked like a woman), whist others have spoken of icy chills, or odd feelings while in certain rooms.
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Cambridge Tce, site of some of Wellington’s landmark buildings, was once a stream.
Before a massive earthquake changed the landscape in 1855, flat- bottomed boats used to make their way from the harbour along what are now Cambridge and Kent terraces to a shallow lagoon, which later became the Basin Reserve.
Many of the principals of the New Zealand Company that founded Wellington had Cambridge University as their alma mater – hence the name Cambridge Tce.
One of the Cambridge Tce’s most famous buildings was St Patrick’s College, which was built in 1884 and remained the dominant feature of the southern end of the street until the school moved to Kilbirnie in 1979.
The Cambridge Hotel, on the corner of Alpha St, on Cambridge Terrace has long been a feature of the street. It looked to be on its last legs, until it was fully refurbished and restored to full splendour, with a sympathetically restored decor.
The Cambridge Hotel is the first choice for many travellers and returning guests.
It is popular for its value accommodation and fantastic central location in the capital city. The Cambridge Hotel has been serving the local community since 1883, and also has claim over a famous guest with Queen Elizabeth II gracing the hotel with her presence during the 1963 royal tour.
There have been a couple of claims of possible paranormal activity within this hotel that we have so far heard of, though these have been vague and without much detail. claims made have been of seeing a man in a black suit silently ascending the stairs and disappearing at the top; as well as the usual feelings of movement in the rooms, “pressure on the bed, like a cat has just jumped up”, or an uneasy feeling at the top of the stairs, “as if you are about to fall, or be pushed.”
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The Wains Hotel Building (frequently spelt grammatically but incorrectly as Wain’s Hotel) is a historic hotel building in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is currently occupied by the Park Regis Dunedin hotel.
Job Wain started his first hotel in downtown Dunedin in the 1860s, at the height of the Central Otago gold rush. Business flourished, and when the Commercial Bank next door closed Wain expanded his business into that building. He continued to buy nearby properties, and in 1878 contracted to have a major new structure — costing £14,000 — built in Princes Street, designed by Mason, Wales, & Stevenson. At that time, the Exchange area where the hotel was constructed was the heart of Dunedin’s central business district, so it was very well positioned for major trade.
Wains Hotel has an Italianate style, with an elaborate façade noted for its columns, pilasters, and carved figures. At ground level, substantial columns of Port Chalmers basalt breccia rise, topped with capitals of Kakanui limestone. These columns support arches above which sit carved figures of Bacchus, Neptune, and mermaids. The entranceway is topped by a stone balustrade featuring an eagle as its keystone. The upper storeys are equally ornate. Inside, doors and fittings of Tasmanian blackwood complemented the exterior’s grandeur.
The building is classified as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
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Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.
It is situated between State Highway 6 (linking to Wanaka, 50 km north, and Queenstown, 60 km west) and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge. A point near Cromwell lies 119 kilometres from the sea, the farthest from the sea anywhere in New Zealand. A prominent feature surrounding much of the town is the man-made Lake Dunstan. Cromwell also has the newly constructed Highlands Motorsport Park. Nearby settlements are at Bannockburn, Lowburn, Tarras, and Ripponvale.
Cromwell was originally known as “The Junction”, being at the confluence of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers. In 1862, gold was discovered below the Junction by two miners, Hartley and Reilly. Once the word of a gold strike was out, there was an influx of several thousand miners to the area.
As gold ran out, Cromwell became the service centre for an extensive farming and stone fruit growing area. It has a strategic location between the Lindis and the Haast passes, and acts as a hub between the towns of Wanaka, Queenstown and Alexandra. The former is commemorated with the giant sculpture of stone fruit which stands outside the northern end of the town.
Cromwell lay at the confluence of the Clutha River and Kawarau River, which was noted for the difference between the colours of the waters of the two rivers and also for the historic bridge at the convergence of the two.
A view of Lake Dunstan. The dark area seen under the water surface, is the remains of the drowned village.
Since the construction of the Clyde Dam and the filling of Lake Dunstan in the early 1990s the river confluence was drowned, as was the old town centre.
The decision to build Clyde Dam and use Cromwell as the accommodation base brought many changes to the town. Approximately one-third of the town was rebuilt on higher ground. The changes included the doubling of the residential area, relocation of the old town centre (now called “Old Cromwell Town”), upgrading of services, and the provision of modern educational and sports facilities, and a new bridge. The relocated town centre, or “The Mall,” now houses the main retail, service and civic buildings in Cromwell. Several of the old buildings of the town which escaped the flooding have been retained as a historic precinct close to the shore of the Kawarau.
The town was named after Oliver Cromwell and, as well as “The Junction”, the town was previously known as “The Point” and “Kawarau”.
The future of Cromwell is in farming, horticulture, viticulture, and tourism. Cromwell is nicknamed the “Fruit Bowl of the South”.
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 section of the largely flooded historic Cromwell business district.
The Lodge has provided a meeting place for its members for over 105 years.
Through the years there have been stories of small but unusally bright lights, seen floating around the lodge and over the lake surface; usually in a spiralling fashion, sometimes in small groups of up to five lights at a time, (it has been theorised that perhaps this is some manner of spirit activity from those that drowned when the town was flooded) Also, a mysterious, shrouded black figure is seen from time to time, standing beside the lodge. These occurrences are said to always be at night and when the lodge and neighbouring historical village town centre is closed and deserted.
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YMCA Camp Adair is located in Hunua, south of Auckland. It was first established in 1913 and encompasses over 100 acres, the camp was later purchased by the YMCA in 1938. The camp currently provides outdoor recreational facilities, including farmland and native bush. The historic School House located on the property can be hired for events and functions. Camp Adair is a popular location for camping trips for schools in the wider Auckland area and boasts a wide variety of outdoor activities including orienteering, wall climbing, archery, air rifle shooting, kayaking, along with a confidence course and mudslide. There are three self-contained villages on site; the Main Lodge, the Hugh Lambie village and the Graham Glaister village, each of which have campfire areas.
It is around these campfires that the legend of a tragic event which occurred at Camp Adair have been told to children for many years.
The legend surrounding Camp Adair centers on the historic School House, which is often the center of gathering at the camp. Generations of children who have stayed at the camp have been told the tale of a group of children who while staying at the camp were murdered by their teacher in the School House building. The legend states that the murderous teacher, who is said to have had a fiery red beard, can be seen through lurking the windows of the school house late at night, waiting for his next victim…
Often captioned as the “Camp Adair School House”, this building is in fact a caretakers cottage on the property. The actual School House is a much larger building which seats 45 people.
Image Copyright ©2010 Henry Falkner (www.pbase.com/hfalkner/profile)
Entrance sign at Camp Adair in Hunua, Auckland.
Image Copyright ©2010 Henry Falkner (www.pbase.com/hfalkner/profile)
More information on YMCA Camp Adair can be found on the camp’s website.
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This article by Mark Wallbank is brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand - Investigating Ghosts, Cryptids, UFOs, Urban Legends and Forgotten Histories of Aotearoa
Feb 2016, I began working on a plan to investigate further, the almost regular unusual occurrences that have been reported through the years at the grand, and much loved, Puhinui house.
puhi are the decorative plumes used on Maori war canoes; nui meaning large – Apparently relating to an incident in which a concealed canoe was discovered when someone caught sight of the distinctive plumes on its prow. There are claims the discoverers were soundly defeated in a following skirmish.
Puhinui Homestead was originally built on Thomas Morris McLaughlin’s 1152 hectare farm in Wiri, which he bought in 1845. In 1861, Thomas’ second son William built this fine piece of real estate lovingly named Puhinui, also called the McLaughlin Homestead. The family retained the house and land for many years, but after the industrialisation of that area, in 1980, the house was offered to the Howick Historical Society and moved to the village on February 12, 1982.
The 160-year-old house was cut into five pieces and shifted to the village in 1982. It was carried from its Manukau home on five trailers and, with the help of two large cranes, reassembled. Hauntings
Through the years, there has been witnessed the figure of a woman, ascending the stairs. Nothing else, just climbing, from the bottom to the top. The same women (well, its surmised its the same woman) has also been seen in the master bedroom at the top of the stairs. It is thought that the mystery woman could be William McLaughlin’s Daughter, Sarita.
Sarita, (Sally) was a Peruvian immigrant who was attached to the family owning the house. Sarita was an actress and involved in the Women’s Surrogacy Movement of the time.
An obituary in the Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 243, 12 October 1940, Page 12 reads; Many Auckland people, and particularly those connected with the older generations, will regret to learn of the death of Miss Sarita McLaughlin, which occurred at her residence in Remuera last evening. Miss McLaughlin was born on the Puhinui estate in 1870. It was while she was young that her father, the late Mr. William McLaughlin, founded the Pakuranga Hunt Club and was its master for many years. Miss McLaughlin was a fine horsewoman and hunted regularly with the hounds. A large circle of friends will always remember Miss McLaughlin’s many kindnesses. Her generosity was distributed to all classes and without thought for herself. She visited England and the Continent several times and a few years ago spent some months in South America.
Sarita Niccol McLaughlin passed away at seventy years of age.
So far the team have conducted two investigations of the village, always making time for this old gem.
But this time I wanted to focus it all on just this one house.
I wanted to keep it simple.
No other team members, minimal equipment and no one knowing I’m there.
I wanted to avoid any possible contamination or distractions.
No random whispering, coughing, footsteps, sound or movement from anyone but myself.
Just me, and the house.
During a previous investigation of the house, back in 2010, the building was in the process of some renovation and a repaint. Scaffolding surrounding most of the exterior.
One team member reporting feeling a non-specific presence within the Homestead. As the building was undergoing re-painting of the exteriors, it is believed within the paranormal communities, that construction or renovations can be a trigger which can potentially stir up ghostly activity.
Earlier in the day, prior to the team’s investigation, a ghostly encounter was reported by a painter who was working on renovations to one of the buildings on site. The painter reported seeing an apparition out of the corner of their eye when working at the Puhinui Farm Homestead building. Unfortunately the team were not able to interview this individual directly, so further specifics of the encounter could not be obtained.
During that investigation, one of the team placed a coin on a sheet of paper in the children’s bedroom and traced a circle around the edge with a pen. Then, any ‘children’ present, were asked to please come forward and move the coin. The coin was then left while the team investigated elsewhere in the house. Upon returning, the coin had indeed moved outside the confines of the tracing.
In addition, one team member reported seeing the movement of one of the curtains in the main parlour of the house. The curtain was large, at least three metres tall and made from a heavy velvet material. While it was a windy day, and the window behind the curtain had been removed for renovation (the gap left covered in tarpaulin), the movement seen appeared to be a deliberate tug, rather than movement caused by the wind.
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I decided that I would sit and write a live journal for inclusion in this book, during my night long vigil. I would also log onto Facebook and give a live account to anyone that might be up at that time paying attention.
During that time a couple of mediums came online and started trying to channel in to where I was. I had time on my hands so offered to do whatever they might like me to do, if they were picking up on anything. They had no idea where I was. Typically, and as I had expected, they both were far off the mark.
One telling me to look for a pit in on the floor which was the old cellar and that a barmaid had died there; even though I explained to one of the mediums that the building had never been a bar and had no cellar. However, they seemed adamant they were correct. I was in no space for a debate, so just let it be. Both mediums soon realised that were getting nowhere so left the discussion. If anything it gave me a smug quiet giggle to pass the time.
My journal below is as I wrote it at on the night. Nothing has been added. Please excuse my semi-train of thought and attempted semi-poetic ramblings.
Well, here I am again, thirty something years on and I’m again sitting in the dark in the lounge room of Puhinui house, at the Howick historical village, looking for ghosts.
I did this at ten years old and I’m still doing it.
I love this shit, I really do. It’s something that not many truly understand, until they give it a go themselves.
Just sitting in a quiet old room, no distractions. Minimal lighting and no noise.
Just you and the old house.
Soaking each other up and talking to one another in a weird, two-way conversation consisting of two differing languages.
House, and human.
It’s dark, around 9pm and I’ve just finished setting up some equipment for tonight’s solo vigil at Puhinui.
I’m using a four camera IR DVR system. Small and compact.
There’s a camera aimed out into the lounge room watching me sleep, one aimed into the dining room, one up in the master bedroom aimed towards the bed and one at the bottom of the stairs looking up.
Plus two video cams on tripods. One in lounge aimed down hallway, one in study.
Motion and vibration sensors will hopefully alert me to anything roaming the halls or stairwell, outside of my vision. Motion and vibration sensors on the stairs. A motion sensor in hallway outside kitchen.
Whilst doing this, I am continually aware of movement around me. Fleeting shadows on the peripheral. Also sounds. Not the typical house shifting type sounds. These are more than just the dull old creaks and pops of an old house as the night rolls on. Scuffing, movement. But down low.
9.45pm: Someone’s just let off some fireworks nearby.
20 degrees Celsius outside and 21.6 inside where I’m sitting. Feeling relaxed and comfortable. There’s kinda that weird, ‘being watched’ feeling. But it doesn’t worry me at all.
10pm and the old chiming clock is dead on time!
Tells me the hour, on the hour. Things sure were built to last back then.
Watching a few You Tube clips on the tablet to pass the time.
I keep spinning around. So many noises behind and to the left of me that don’t sound like house creaks.
These are more like movement scuffs and swishes, not cracks and creaks. Coming from behind me and to my left and loud enough to cause me to spin around in my chair to look. I’ve already gotten up to check, but there’s nothing there. Its like there’s something just around that corner. Hiding or doing something. I’m thinking a rat, but cant see one.
Went and sat on the stairwell for a while.
This is where the grey lady is often seen; always ascending.
It’s weird. If you stare at a bunch of shadows long enough, they start to merge together and move. I’m looking at the shadows cast onto the stairwell wall.
The spaces, if you stare for a while, seem to fill in and open again.
I know it’s my eyes playing optical trickery and perhaps I’m a bit tired into the mix. But when you’re in a place like this, alone, with bugger all lights on, this kind of shit can really mess with you!
11pm: On to my second Moro Bar and second bottle of water.
There’s coffee in the kitchen, but I don’t really want to get too wired.
Prefer to keep it natural and let my body do what it needs to do.
If I get tired, I’ll sleep.
Then again, perhaps a little sleep deprivation might add a little ‘zing’ to the night?
Still hearing sounds. Just light, random scuffles.
Like the sound when wind blows a tree’s branch swiftly across a window.
Yet there are no trees nearby and none touching the house anywhere.
Also, the sounds are down low; floor level.
By the front door and at the bottom of the stairs.
Perhaps even in the dining room. Hard to tell at this point.
Its those bloody invisible rats again!
12am / Midnight: It’s 19 degrees outside and 21.6 inside. So quite comfy.
There’s a lonely Pukeko somewhere out front of the house calling for his / her mate. A sad crying sound with a desperate, yet melancholic tone.
OK, that was interesting. Got up to go to the toilet.
Mid stream, I hear what sounds like footsteps on the wooden floor following after me. I hold, listen. It stops, I carry on urinating.
There would’ve been about five steps. In succession and in a convincing walking rhythm.
Getting harder to think rationally, when things are sounding like what they sound like.
1am: 18 degrees outside, 20 in here.
Temperatures slowly crawling down with each passing hour. Can’t stop yawning. It’s been a long day!
Just tried a communication session on the stairwell.
After asking a few questions, I heard that shuffling sound again. This time coming from upstairs. I called out “Is someone there?” and went up to have a look. Couldn’t see anything out of place.
Was hoping whom ever might be there would attempt some wall tapping, or come sit beside me for a chat. Nothing this time round.
Then again, I haven’t yet reviewed any of my footage, so who knows what might turn up. Maybe they did find a way to make themselves known.
The wind is picking up outside. I’m expecting the frequency of creaks and clicks to rise now.
Oddly enough they aren’t.
2am: The noises seemed to have stopped now.
I figured the wind outside would cause more than what I was hearing.
If indeed the sounds were being caused by external natural forces, onto the house, then surely I’d hear more wooden creaking and clicks as the house was blown.
Even revisited the toilet for a follow up pee. (on to the third water bottle now)
This time no one appeared interested in my bladder release.
Have to say, one of my less satisfying urinations. Is it weird to be hoping that someone will be watching you doing it?
Lets just quietly say, on this occasions I was kind of hoping it would go that way.
2.45am: Decided I need sleep. Eyes are starting to water. I’ve been staring at this damn laptop too long tonight and its been a long day.
Will leave everything running and get comfy on the floor.
Have to be up and out by 8am as there’s a ‘live day’ at the village.
Would be rather embarrassing to wake to find a group of kids milling around me thinking I was some bizarre historical recreation.
3 am: Ok, its just after 3am and something just happened. I heard a bang, which woke me up. Wasn’t sure what it was. Just a bang like something had fallen or been knocked over.
Thought it might have been a poorly balanced camera and tripod falling over.
It’s a torch I had upstairs sitting on a chair. It’s now down the stairs. Not sure how.
Can’t get my head around this.
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The journal logging ended there, as I needed sleep and was dazed and confused like the walking dead. I didn’t know what I had captured, or experienced, until I got home and replayed the video. I knew when the incident happened so just skipped through to that very moment.
It was then I realised that the activity had happened 25 minutes after my head had hit my pillow and played out for around 12 minutes. What follows is a series of noises that suggest a heavy cabinet being dragged across a wooden floor, perhaps draws being slid open, scuffing and sliding sounds, what could possibly be footsteps and a couple of loud clunks very similar to that made by a metal bucket. Then there’s the physical and visual action. A small, unknown moving ‘object’ is seen casting a shadow, through the stair railings onto the stairs. It appeared to be blocking the light behind it.
Then the grand finale; my torch flying sharply down onto the stairs, seemingly with some force behind it. At a first and second watch, the footage looks pretty impressive, however I find myself in two minds about it.
I know I should be very excited about this capture, but something just doesn’t feel right. Nothing seems to make sense. The building layout, the distance the torch moved, the angles, the force, the types of noises then there’s the fact; to which I’ll probably spend eternity kicking myself for. That there’s no camera aimed at the torch to capture that money shot!
I’m not yet saying I’ve been pranked. Even that could’ve been a far stretch for someone to pull off. Too make variables. Too much risk for them, and again, everything didn’t make any sense or fit any probable scenario. I really don’t think it was someone in the house with me. Every footstep and every move I made in that house was amplified loud and clear by floor board creaks. You just couldn’t move a step without causing a commotion. Anyone upstairs would’ve had to have been levitating to get around. The noise I made just going up the stairs to look, was ridiculous!
The team has spent a few weeks now analysing and discussing the footage in an attempt to break down the incident as much as possible, to try and shed some much needed light onto it. So far we are reaching dead ends.
In the next few months we will endeavour two further overnight solo vigils.
I want to experiment with variation of people in these situations.
Three Haunted Auckland team members, with differing skills, beliefs, strengths, personalities, ethics and preferred investigation equipment.
I’m interested to see what similarities might occur. Any patterns in activity or personal emotion.
I also want to see how team members cope in these conditions. Not everyone can endure this type of environment.
Would the imagination take over leading to paranoia and fear? Or would a strong thinking mind stay firm and work it through to the end?
In the end though, there isn’t really any right or wrong way of doing this. But it sure is one hell of a crazy roadtrip finding out!
The video clip of session one of The Puhinui Project, can be found on You Tube here. WATCH VIDEO HERE
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Couldrey House is an historic Victorian-Edwardian family home set in parkland.
It is fully furnished but in a mix of styles reflecting the eras and preoccupations of some notable past owners.
Who lived here?
• An early entrepreneur extraordinaire
• An Indian Army Major and his artist wife
• A wealthy widow with a social conscience
• An eccentric sea captain
• A customs agent and avid collector
• Robert Graham (1820-1885) was a tourism entrepreneur, farmer, businessman and national and local politician. The homestead he built in 1857 has been shifted, extended and renovated to become the Couldrey House you see today.
Major and Mrs Whitney (left) outside the homestead, c.1915.
• Major John Whitney founded the Colonial Ammunition Co. in 1885. Mrs Harriet Whitney was a talented artist. The Whitneys lived here for 20 years – the first permanent residents – they doubled the size of the house, where they entertained generously.
• Mrs Annabelle McKail Geddes and her family enjoyed Wenderholm as a holiday retreat from her busy philanthropic life in Auckland.
• Captain Thomas Caradoc Kerry (1859-1944) was a sea-captain with charm and a colourful past. In later life (his Wenderholm years) he was simply a recluse.
• H.W. ‘Tim’ Couldrey was a shipping agent and enthusiastic collector. He and his wife Brenda Edmonds Couldrey restored the house from near dereliction (1956-60), added some of the comforts and conveniences and hosted many V I P’s. The Couldreys owned Wenderholm for 30 years and were the last private owners of the house.
There are stories of ‘Pale, misty looking’ men and women seen momentarily before disappearing, at various times around the property and within the home.
One report describes a shadowy figure seen briefly at the top of the stairs.
Children have also been heard laughing upstairs.
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I was no stranger to Puhinui house itself. Being a local to the Howick and Pakuranga area meant almost annual visits to the Howick historical village right through my school life from primary to college. I can’t ever recall ever visiting the Puhinui house and considering that it may be haunted. I was aware that it was old and had a history – that was usually the point of us visiting but I can honestly say that I never made any ghostly connections to the house. To me, I guess I saw the house as more of an attraction, something in my mind that more closely resembled a prop or a film set.
Since then I’ve heard stories of ghostly figures seen ascending the stairs and outside doorways looking into rooms, sparking a different kind of interest and naturally wanting to see something like that for myself, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to do a full solo investigation at the house.
I liked the idea of doing a solo investigation – spending a night alone in what could potentially be a haunted house is an opportunity of a lifetime, something I’d be silly to pass on. One key advantage to solo investigations is not having to single out noises or activity from other team members, which means anything that happens within the house that I can’t vouch for myself is something worth questioning.
The house takes on a different persona at night. Away from the general public, sitting alone in the quiet dimly lit house it actually felt homely. It was no longer an attraction that I could only look at. I felt more involved, like It really was a house that I was looking after whilst the owners were away.
Except I didn’t feel alone – I’m not entirely too sure if findings shared from previous investigations had any effect on my expectations and feelings or not, be it on a conscious or a sub-conscious level but throughout the night I had a general sense that someone was in the house with me, perhaps unaware of my existence and going about their own business; The sounds of shuffling and the odd knock or tap that resembled more of the familiar sounds of human interaction than of the usual creaky old house noises. Often on the stairs I would feel an unusual “tingly” feeling that would send a chill down my spine and cause goosebumps despite temperature readings being consistent and unchanging.
I think there is a fine line between fear and caution. I don’t believe I ever felt afraid in the house. I don’t have any reason to believe that anything sinister had ever happened in the house so I had no reason to believe that should there be any paranormal interaction that I would be in any danger. However there were moments where intuition told me not investigate any noises without a torch or a camera especially in areas that weren’t properly lit – there were indeed a number of blurry photos of the headless mannequin in the blue dress that stood in the doorway of the storage room at the end of the upstairs hallway, I never got used to it being there throughout the night as I went from room to room and on a few occasions I had to do a double-take thinking that it could have been an apparition. It’s a natural reaction and I have no fear of having to hand in my man-card over it.
Various trigger objects were used throughout the night including Marks blue torch placed on a chair in the upstairs hallway (that was central to activity recorded during his own investigation). A slinky placed midway on the staircase, playing cards semi-dealt and placed on the small table upstairs and lettering dice that were placed randomly in the downstairs hallway. All trigger objects were placed in view of a camera. On inspection of the trigger objects early the following morning it appeared that nothing had been moved or altered from their original places.
I felt as though I spent most of the night with one eye open. Not out of fear but rather because at random intervals throughout the night I could hear sounds from upstairs that would suggest there was movement. So with every knock or scrape I would listen out for repeat sounds. I can honestly confess that even though I knew I was alone and expected to be alone I had a sense that I wasn’t – and they weren’t deliberate sounds for the sake of making noise, but rather the sounds of someone going about their own business.
Cameras that I had placed around the house would later confirm that I did indeed get some sleep (and quite vocally) eventually. Interestingly enough I could clearly be heard on one of the cameras I’d placed upstairs (I was sleeping downstairs) so clear in fact that you’d almost think I was in the same room. A lack of insulation perhaps? Thin walls and flooring? It made me question the direction of every sound that I’d though I’d heard throughout the night. I’d thought I’d heard sounds from upstairs when downstairs and vice versa but were they really from that direction?
Do I think the house could be haunted? I believe that there was enough going on throughout the night to suggest that there is something in the house worth investigating further. To say it’s a Ghost or anything paranormal is too early to tell.
I think moving forward I wonder if my expectations and experiences would be different had I known less about the property and activity prior to my visit. Had I not known that there had been apparitions seen ascending the stairs would I have focused as much attention to the stairs as much as I did. And would other rooms have stood out more? Would I have been better off not knowing that It was believed to be a female spirit that had once lived in the house, would my communication questions have been more neutral?
I think the investigations so far have raised plenty of questions that may take some time to answer, there have been interesting findings with each solo investigation so far, as well as plenty of things that we’d all like to do differently should there be other opportunities.
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November 14th, 2015. Haunted Auckland headed back to this beautiful, yet allegedly haunted slice of bush land, for a third overnight visit for further exploration. This time, we were joined by members from two other teams; Midnight Paranormal [Hamilton] and Whangarei Paranormal Society. [Click photo to enlarge to full size]
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The Wains Hotel Building (frequently spelt grammatically but incorrectly as Wain’s Hotel) is a historic hotel building in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is currently occupied by the Park Regis Dunedin hotel.
Job Wain started his first hotel in downtown Dunedin in the 1860s, at the height of the Central Otago gold rush. Business flourished, and when the Commercial Bank next door closed Wain expanded his business into that building. He continued to buy nearby properties, and in 1878 contracted to have a major new structure — costing £14,000 — built in Princes Street, designed by Mason, Wales, & Stevenson. At that time, the Exchange area where the hotel was constructed was the heart of Dunedin’s central business district, so it was very well positioned for major trade.
Wains Hotel has an Italianate style, with an elaborate façade noted for its columns, pilasters, and carved figures. At ground level, substantial columns of Port Chalmers basalt breccia rise, topped with capitals of Kakanui limestone. These columns support arches above which sit carved figures of Bacchus, Neptune, and mermaids. The entranceway is topped by a stone balustrade featuring an eagle as its keystone. The upper storeys are equally ornate. Inside, doors and fittings of Tasmanian blackwood complemented the exterior’s grandeur.
The building is classified as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
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The team were called, in an attempt to document some of the unusual activity that has been reported through the years, right up until recently, in this late 1800’s student office building.
Reports of people being touched, items moving, uneasy feelings, ice cold chills, voices heard and figures seen standing in the window, seemingly looking out.
Team members present on this occasion: Mark, Barbara, Sam and Lisa. Joining us were three student members, that work in the building and know it well.
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There are numerous ghosts reported to haunt this beautifully kept and much loved, iconic theatre.
The St James Theatre was opened on Boxing Day, 1912.
During the theatre’s first months, it was used primarily to play silent movies, but was later adapted to present live performances as well.
The St. James has had a long history, with its success in its early years, a near demolition in the 1980’s and to its return to the city’s cultural light in the late 1990’s.
One of the more regular sightings is the ghost of Yuri, a Russian performer who supposedly fell, or jumped from the fly-floor above the stage, to his death, although another claim is that he was pushed by another Russian performer, an actress named Pasha.
It is said that Yuri was infatuated with one of the dancers, who avoided his advances in favour of a theatre electrician. It is not known whether he committed suicide out of despair from rejection, was pushed, or simply fell accidentally.
Yuri has been encountered playing with the lights; in particular, switching them all back on again once the theatre has been locked up for the night. A theatre projectionist reckons Yuri has saved his life twice whilst working in the theatre.
While searching for the light switch one night when the lights suddenly went out in the auditorium, the man claims he was pushed backwards by what he believed was Yuri. When the lights turned back on, it was then he realised he was standing only inches from the deep orchestra pit, and if not pushed back, would’ve fallen in causing serious injury or even death. Another terrifying incident was when the man was standing on stage with his infant son. Suddenly, a beam overhead collapsed and fell. The projectionist was pushed backwards by an unseen force, with his son carried about 3 metres through the air. The man believes it was Yuri that saved them that evening.
There is also the ‘Wailing Woman’, a frequent apparition who is said to wail and moan in the dark of night. The story goes that the woman, a struggling actress, was booed off’stage one night. She took it hard and committed suicide that night, by slitting her wrists. it is thought that is it her ghost that causes many of the unfortunate accidents and mishaps around the theatre as vengeance. other actresses have suffered sprained ankles, falls from ladders and steps, and sudden colds and throat infections, rendering them unable to perform or sing properly, or at all.
Even prolific film maker, Peter Jackson has made claims of encountering the mysterious Wailing Woman, many years ago, standing at the foot of his bed in his apartment which was situated across from the St James Theatre.
The alleged ghost of Stan Andrews is also supposed to be residing within the theatre and is often heard wheezing as he lurks around the backstage corridors during performances.
An unknown tall, thin man, aged about thirty has been seen in the theatre numerous times outside of performance times.
Even more intriguing, though highly unlikely, is talk of an entire boys choir, also said to haunt the theatre. The current story regarding this, is that the choir played their last song at the St. James Theatre during Second World War, before heading off on tour by boat. No more was ever heard from the boys again, and the ship never reached its destination. Staff often hear their music emanating from up in the stands.
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Construction work on the building, originally known as the “Grand Opera House”, began in 1911. William Pitt, the architect, was based in Melbourne, Australia, and much of the work was overseen by local architect Albert Liddy.
The Opera House has three levels: stalls, circle and grand circle. It has fine moldings and an ornate dome. It is a brick building, with wooden floors. On either side of the proscenium arch are two boxes – arranged on top of each other.
In 1977, it was restored by the State Insurance company, and for many years it was known as the State Opera House.
Today, it is simply called “The Opera House”.
In recent years, The Opera House was operated by the same Trust which ran the nearby St James Theatre.
The Opera House was used for the theatre scenes in Peter Jackson’s 2005 film King Kong.
In October 2012 it was announced that the Opera House is below 34% of the earthquake code and may have to close for strengthening. However in 2016, the Opera House still stands strong and functions as it always has.
The ghost of Albert Liddy, the theatre’s original construction project manager, who shot and killed himself in 1913, ‘while of unbalanced mind’, has apparently been seen in the building and is blamed for misfortunes that befall people who criticise it. However it is impossible to say if the events are linked.
According to Opera House staff, there are at least two ghosts thought to be roaming the Theatre.
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Erskine 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 valuated ceiling.”
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.
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The aptly named Spirits Bay, or Piwhane, is located at the most northern tip of New Zealand’s North Island. The isolated bay is 12 kilometers long and was named one of the top campers’ spots in New Zealand.
From Wikipedia: The bay is considered a sacred place in Māori culture as according to local legend, it is the location where spirits of the dead gather to depart from this world to travel to their ancestral home (or afterlife) from a large old pōhutukawa tree above the bay. The bay has two Māori names, Piwhane and Kapowairua, the latter meaning to “catch the spirit”, derived from a Māori language saying that translates into English as: “I can shelter from the wind. But I cannot shelter from the longing for my daughter. I shall venture as far as Hokianga, and beyond. Your task (should I die) shall be to grasp my spirit.” The words were spoken by Tōhē, a chief of the Ngāti Kahu people, who is considered one of Muriwhenua’s most important ancestors. Tōhē made his way south, naming more than one hundred places along the western coast, until dying at Whāngaiariki near Maunganui Bluff.
Spirits Bay is claimed to be one of the most haunted locations in New Zealand. According to legend, if visiting the bay at night you can observe multiple individual spirits travelling down the beach before disappearing at a single spot. The claims are these spirits ignore any attempts to interact or delay them, and are solely focused on their destination. These are believed to be souls departing the island as mentioned in the Māori legend. In the nearby Tom Bowling Bay there is a stream, the Kapo-Wairua., name literally meaning “Snatching Souls.” This is said to be a reference to demons who try to snatch at the spirits passing that way.
This article by Matthew Tyler was brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand.
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European settlers, Duncan and Maureen McNicol came to New Zealand in 1853 from the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland after an unsuccessful foray to the Australian gold fields. An historic homestead set in attractive grounds and overlooking the Clevedon Valley, this grand home, on the corner of the Clevedon-Kawakawa Road and the road named after them, McNicol Road, stands as a sentinel overlooking Clevedon village, which in their day was called Wairoa South.
The Kauri built house, registered as a category II with the N.Z. Historic Places Trust, shifted out of family hands in the 1960s and about 1980 the next owner gifted it to the then Manukau City Council (MCC) and now runs as a museum and houses collections relating to the early settlers.
Whilst reports of possible paranormal activity at the homestead are rare, there are stories of voices being heard, footsteps upstairs and the odd apparition seen, through the years.
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Built in 1851 by Edward Constable, who emigrated from Maidstone, Kent in England, the Kentish Hotel is possibly the most famous established watering hole in the Franklin area, namely Waiuku. Granted to sell liquor in 1853, the pub can lay claim to having the longest running liquor license in New Zealand.
The Kentish Hotel has certainly stood the test of time. In 1926, the hotel narrowly escaped being nearly burned to the ground when a fire engulfed a few wooden buildings nearby. As wind fuelled the flames, many of the locals jumped into action pouring water and throwing wet sheets across the Kentish’s facade, saving most of the building from significant damage.
However, this much loved local pub holds a little more than the standard drinkable bar spirits. The alleged spectral resident is thought to a woman named Kate. She has been spotted from time to time by staff and patrons. The story goes that Kate was caught cheating on her sailor husband and was killed upstairs in Room 10.
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Lake Alice Hospital was once a rural psychiatric facility situated in the Manawatu region, catering to the full mental health spectrum, from troubled youth and the criminally insane to the elderly with dementia.
The sprawling complex, opened in August 1950, spread out across 56 hectares of land consisting of ten two-level villas, each with eleven beds for patients, four two-level villas housing 50 beds, a maximum security wing, morgue, chapel, library, staff quarters, administration building, landscaped grounds complete with vegetable gardens, sporting areas and two swimming pools. The hospital even had its own fire station.
The facility slowly shut down during the mid 1990s, with plans to assimilate patients back into the community. It was an idea that divided many in the community, as public safety concerns came into question. Full closure of the hospital was implemented in October 1999.
Former patients of the hospital’s child and adolescent unit have made allegations of abuse that happened at the hospital during the 1970s, including the use of electroconvulsive therapy and paraldehyde injections as punishment. The New Zealand government issued an apology in 2001, and has so far paid out a total of $10.7 million in compensation to 183 former patients.
Auckland accountant and property developer’s group Lake Hicks Ltd purchased the buildings and grounds in July 2006, though redevelopment plans came to a halt after the new owners fell into financial difficulties and could go no further with it.
Lake Alice was sold on once more in December 2008 with plans to demolish most of the buildings to make way for farmland after plans for a subdivision failed. At this time, only a handful of buildings remain, abandoned and derelict, having been vandalised by trespassing urban explorers and thrill seeking teens looking for a spooky place to party. Much of the complex has gone and the remaining villas, which had asbestos roofing, are being carefully demolished one by one.
There are many stories that have circulated through the generations of the Lake Alice Hospital being actively haunted by spirits. Staff working their shifts have told of mysterious apparitions, voices, being touched by invisible hands, surgical equipment moving without human interaction and figures seen wandering the halls.
This article by Mark Wallbank was brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand.
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Last weekend a few of the team roadtripped down the line a couple of hours, to the beautiful (and refreshingly friendly) little town of Thames, on the Coromandel Peninsula to conduct an overnight investigation of the reportedly haunted Junction Hotel. A huge thanks to the hotel management and staff for being so welcoming and helpful during our visit. Thanks also to all those that joined in with our Facebook live feed. We reached an overwhelming 300 watchers at one stage! Our most viewed feed yet, so thanks for helping out and taking an interest in what we do.
We are currently working our way through the video, audio and gathered data and will have a full report of the visit sometime in the near future. At this point, due to the interesting occurrences we experienced, we feel a return visit is warranted so will be heading back for further research soon.
For now though, here’s a bunch of photos taken by us of our time in the Junction Hotel.
This article by Mark Wallbank was brought to you by Paranormal New Zealand.
