Culprit behind mystery parcels revealed?

The appearance of the mystery parcels two months ago sent Greymouth into a spin. File photo / Thinkstock

The puzzle of the mystery parcels sent to unsuspecting West Coast homes two months ago has resurfaced with new claims - but Greymouth police are sceptical.

An anonymous email from "somewhere in Europe" was sent to the Greymouth Star yesterday, claiming that it was all a publicity stunt to promote the launch of a blog by a 19-year-old teenager, who needed to make quick cash to pay dentist bills and his mortgage.

The listed blog is a site where people can buy pixels for a minimum of 125 euro ($193), giving the purchaser the right to submit an image and link, which will then be published on the homepage.

According to the emailer, at least 14 parcels were delivered to people in the South Island, all with European postmarks and all containing hair goods, other items and handwritten notes, with 11 more were on the way.

But according to Greymouth police, there were only four, all delivered to the West Coast, and enclosed up to $100 cash.

Senior sergeant Allyson Ealam, of Greymouth police, said the latest 'development' was intriguing, but she was doubtful. "It says it is a stunt to get money; so why on earth was money sent? Wouldn't it have been better used to pay for the dentist bills?"

She also noted that it cost 90 euro ($139) to post just one of the parcels from Paris to Greymouth.

"If the person was so short of money why waste it doing this?"

The emailer said he had looked around the web and researched how he could make "a quick euro".

"I tried many things over the years nothing succeed, but this time I have to succeed I will do everything to pay my bills."

He said his last hope was to sell pixels for promotion by getting attention "from the whole world".

He claimed he picked Greymouth for no other reason than he had spotted the town on Google maps.