Readers' views: Can you hear humming?

Scientists are investigating a mysterious humming noise which people from Auckland to Kaiwaka in Northland say is driving them mad.

The symptoms are similar to those suffered by people with tinnitus, commonly associated with a prolonged high-frequency ringing in the ear.

Have you heard the humming? Do you have any idea what it could be?

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About time this was recognised as being a reality. I have been hearing this hum for over 6 years now but stopped talking about it because folk thought I was exaggerating. It is especially noticeable on my Waiheke island home where it is a lot quieter during the evening/early morning hours.

- Guy Caldwell

This is not a problem limited to Auckland. I have been aware of a low frequency hum for many years in my Wellington suburb, which is definitely worse at night. I have now moved and am no longer plauged with this annoyance.

- Peter Davies

I have had a humming noise in my right ear since mid 2004. Dissappeared when I was in Fiji and returned when back in the Manawatu. I liken it to a motor vehicle parked out on the street idling. Had an appointment to have it seen, however I missed the appointment and they wouldn't reschedule and told me I had to go back to my GP to schedule another time, so I guess I'll never know whether the source is internal or external - no one seems to take it particularly seriously. These days I have worked out how I can use the hum like a mantra to relax!? Cheers and let me know if you find the source.

- Geoff

I have heard it as well. I'm also reading a book at the moment regarding a theoretical advanced civilization known as the Arcturians which may be of interest. Yes I know you are journalists and must remain objective as commentators on factual events. However this book discusses how an advanced civilization of creatures known as The Arcturians have been working for many hundreds of years from the fifth dimension to heal our civilization by generating a higher frequency and in turn assisting our species in a conscious evolution that must take place for our survival. Those individuals that are open to meditation, conscious enlightenment etc can experience sounds such as clicking and a high frequency tone. This is their alignment with us and they try and bring our vibration up by chanelling their energies from their dimension to us. Remember we are all atoms vibrating at different frequencies and it is true that next year in France there is a small "big bang" experiment being undertaken where scientists are attempting to discover two alternative dimensions that sit along side our own but cannot be seen due to the vibration levels we operate in on the material plane. Food for thought?

- Hayden Anderson

Although this matter appears trivial, it should not be taken lightly. This is simply because, since only a select few of the population can hear this noise, there is a possiblity of it being internal, in which case a full scale medical study is required.

- Jithan Varma

At last I'm not the only one! For the last one and half years I have heard a humming sound which starts and then a few minutes later stops and then starts up again. It's nothing in my house as I checked thoroughly. I first noticed it when I was up every hour with my newborn, I'd sit in the dark and hear this humming which would also stop me from sleeping. I wondered if it was an electricty generator outside but that's across the road and up a pole plus there is a house in front of mine so doubt it. I only hear it at night. My husband has always said that I hear too much!

- Mrs. Friend

The scientists say the humming is probably around 56Hz. The New Zealand 240V AC power supply operates at 50Hz - so I figure it could be something which is part of, or connected to, the mains electricity system. The transformers located on the sides of roads, for example, hum at 50Hz. It could potentially be something inside the house which converts power, such as phone charger or computer power supply. Why these people have all noticed it at the same time is another matter entirely. Maybe the voltage has been high in the system (unlikely)... or maybe you should check the water supply as well.

- Luke Baxter

How interesting that this story was online this morning! I live in Freemans' Bay in the City and last night I could hear the humming noise that everyone is talking about. At first I thought it was one of the appliances in my house but as I walked towards my front door, it grew louder and I realised it was coming from outside. I opened my front door and sure enough, it was. It is a low (but quite loud) humming noise which sounds a little bit like what I can only decribe as an electricity generator (or perhaps an air conditioning unit). It seems to definitely be a motor of some kind and it appears to get louder and then quieter, then louder and then quieter again. How strange -the mystery deepens! Keep us posted NZ Herald...

- Lisa

I to often hear the low humming sound but not all the time. I tracked it down to what I belive is the sound of engines of some fishing boats which come in & out all the time of the harbour & gulf.I live in St Heliers & have noticed the boats when I can hear the hum.--The low noise travels for miles.

- Rob Millard

Yes iv heard it and it comes from the power lines maybe if they were updated the noise would go, come on power company own up

- clair shai

I have a device (noise generator)that creates a cancelling frequency that should stop anyone going mad due to humming noises. It is for sale.

- Rolf Support

I suffer from Tinnitus but cannot hear a humming noise. Perhaps it has something to do with underground seismic activity?? It is a fascinating story.

- Danielle Bessant

I recently went to the doctor as the rining in my ears was driving me insane, any time it is quiet I can hear a loud high pitched ring, almost like an old tv on the fritz. Doctor said it probably wasnt tinnitus, but didnt really have an explaination for it. I tends to be masked by everyday office noise but it is always there in the background. If someone can come up with an answer it would be fantastic!!

- Jenny Ridge

About a year ago we moved to a new subdivision in Albany, about 10 minutes away from where we used to live and I now hear the humming! My husband doesn't though and I always thought he had better hearing than me! He thinks it could be overhead power lines that run parallel to one of the boundaries on our property, I think it might be the alarm system after we had to install a remote sender so we could have it monitored. In the dead of night or early morning it sounds like a very large mosquito and is really annoying! My tip? Invest in a tv with a timer! Or want to truly drive that noise out? Hang a windchime outside your window - I didn't do this myself but my new neighbours have and this probably drives me even more mad than the humming, especially as we live in a high wind zone!

- Karen Baldock

Re the humming story - probably an installed electronic device.

- Vanessa Saxifrage

I been experiencing this problem in my ears for quite time and its like a high fequency noise like a radio gone off the air and is very high pitched and has kept me awake for months on end. I didnt think too much of it due to thinking its was just one of things you had to learn to live with and but now i have been hearing of others that have been experiencing this problem. It has been very frustrating so look forward to the results from these scientific tests that are been done.

- Verna Still

I suggest you look at the following web link:

Click here

- Vanessa

I lived in Birkenhead (Chatswood) on the North Shore for a few years around 1993 and could hear the humming back then. I always thought that it came from the Devonport Naval Base as that was the direction from which it appeared to be coming. I also often wondered if the naval base has underground tunnels which linked it to the munitions depot at the back of Chatswood, and what I was hearing were the transport trains moving back and forth! Sometimes the noise was so pervasive that it would keep me awake for hours.

- NZM

My 8-year-old son asked the obvious-when-you-think-about-it question: have they asked the children if they can hear it?

- Josie Ashworth