NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

Haunted by the memory of these visits

By Joanna Mathers
NZ Herald·
18 May, 2012 05:30 PM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Waitomo Caves Hotel is notorious for supernatural occurrences in room 12a. Photo / Supplied

Waitomo Caves Hotel is notorious for supernatural occurrences in room 12a. Photo / Supplied

Joanna Mathers uncovers disquieting stories of places where the former inhabitants just don't want to let go ...

From the moment the doors closed behind me, I knew something was amiss. My friend and I were in Hanmer Springs for a weekend of pampering. We'd treated ourselves to the best hotel in town, and were looking forward to two days of relaxation and indulgence.

But excitement was replaced with unease when I entered the hotel foyer. The air in the hotel was cold and still; the atmosphere heavy.

"I bet this place is haunted," I whispered to my friend. She laughed nervously.

On the way to our room, my suspicions were confirmed. I asked a passing staff member if the place had any resident spirits.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Yes, that's Mrs Rutherford," she smiled. "She was the wife of the original owner. The poor dear burnt to death after her dress caught fire in the kitchen."

There followed two days of terror. My friend woke to find her bed scorching hot, though the night was cold and she had no electric blanket. Strange white lights flickered on the ceiling. A bath remained boiling to touch, even when half of it was filled with cold water. A black shape whooshed past my bed. So much for a relaxing weekend.

Naturally I turned from ghost sceptic into ghost hunter in a heartbeat. I've since discovered that other people have reported similar experiences in old hotels and historic homes throughout New Zealand. If you're a thrillseeker wanting to take a trip into the twilight zone, here are some spooky spots to visit.

Waitomo Caves Hotel

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Built in 1908, and extended in 1928, the Waitomo Caves Hotel has a reputation for supernatural activity.

General Manager Richard Howard tells me many guests and staff members have had ghostly encounters. "People have seen a Maori man, and a woman dressed in Victorian clothes. There is also supposedly a child who haunts the place," he says.

Room 12a (there is no room 13 at the hotel) is a particularly active spot; people have reported objects moving and a lamp being lifted off the ground.

Richard says that all the paranormal activity is playful, however, and that the hotel has a positive atmosphere.

Discover more

Travel

Scared stiff at Spookers

29 Oct 04:30 PM
Lifestyle

Trawling Auckland's historic treasure troves

15 Apr 10:00 PM
New Zealand

Ghost hunters in for the chill

05 Nov 04:30 PM
World

Terror worth paying for

09 Dec 10:37 PM

Address: RD7, Otorohonga
Contact: Phone 07 878 8204

Ewelme Cottage

Ewelme Cottage in Remuera was built in 1863. John Webster, who lived here for many years, says that he's heard about (and experienced) some odd happenings. "People have seen a cat running down the hall and disappearing through a wall," he says. "Voices have been heard, and [two different] women have been seen."

Possibly the most intriguing sighting is of a little girl sitting under an oak tree in the garden. "She looks about 13 or 14," says John. "She has asked children to play with her, and says 'please go away' to adults."

Address: 14 Ayr St, Parnell
Contact: Phone 379 0202, email ewelme@historic.co.nz

Spookers

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Auckland's "scream park" is known for its blood-and-guts entertainment. What's less well-known is the building that it's housed in has some rather unearthly inhabitants.

Managing director Julia Watson explains. "The building was the nurses' home for the Kingseat Psychiatric Hospital," she says. "Our actors have had strange experiences. One actress saw [two] images of herself in a mirror. A visitor viewed two identical figures standing next to each other, when there was only one person in the room."

Perhaps the most terrifying incident involved a mattress swivelling on a bed, then following a person out of the room. "I was a total sceptic when I first started here," says Julia. "I'm not anymore."

Address: 833 Kingseat Rd, Karaka
Contact: Phone 291 9002

Highwic

Built in 1862 for Alfred Buckland, Highwic is one of Auckland's most beautiful historic homes. It's also home to a ghostly canine.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Spokeswoman Cheryl Laurie says "People have seen a black dog running across the garden to the boundary of the property."

The Bucklands were known to be dog lovers, and would have had many dogs.

The dairy cellar is also a paranormal hot (or should that be cold) spot. "Many people sense the presence of a child in there," says Cheryl.

Address: 40 Gillies Ave, Epsom
Contact: Phone 524 5729, email highwic@historic.org.nz

Mokena Hotel

Mokena Hotel in Te Aroha was a boarding house during the gold rush of the 1860s. It's now a hotel, and said to be home to some paranormal patrons. The spirits of Maori children have been sensed by mediums in a room where children watch DVDs, and groups of ghost hunters often lurk the halls in search of supernatural activity.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Address: 6 Church St, Te Aroha
Contact: Phone 884 8038

Napier Prison

Napier Prison is a great place for wannabe ghost hunters to get spooked. Operating as a penal facility from 1862 until 1993, it's been open to the public since 2002. Managing director Marion Waaka says that between 1872 and 1879 many were hanged here, including Roland Herbert Edwards, who murdered his wife and four children.

"[People have heard] footsteps and voices, moaning in the halls, doors being opened or closed, or locked. [There are] multiple claims of being touched on the face; and ghostly visitors have interrupted the sleep of backpackers or workers staying on site."

Many believe Roland Herbert Edwards haunts the prison, and a cat that lives on the grounds, Basil, is thought to be possessed by the ghost of a prisoner called Basil.

Address: 55 Coote Rd, Napier
Contact: 06 835 9933

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Palace Hotel

Some locals claim this hotel in Te Aroha is haunted by a spirit known as "Harry the Maori". A "clairvoyant" visitor stayed in a room in which a young man called Jimmy had passed away. When asked if she'd seen "Harry" in the night, she answered "Yes, but his name is Jimmy". She'd not been told of the death before her stay.

A chair in the men's toilet has been known to move of its own accord, but the owners say they have not experienced anything themselves, and that the atmosphere here is positive.

Address: 165 Whitaker St, Te Aroha
Contact: Phone 07 884 9994

Alberton

Ghostly activity has been reported in this well-known Mt Albert homestead. Manager Rendell McIntosh says people have reported seeing "women dressed in Victorian clothes, mainly on the first floor, where the bedrooms were".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"One man came downstairs and asked the women on reception who the woman upstairs was. She answered 'you were the only one up there'."

Rendell says that all the sightings are of happy people; "Alberton has always been a happy place."

Address: 100 Mt Albert Rd, Mt Albert
Contact: Phone 846 7367

Two sides of the ghostly tale

Believers

If you are interested in the paranormal, or have something spooky happening at your place, Ghosts of Auckland may be able to help. They investigate paranormal activity throughout Auckland and offer their services free of charge.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Sceptics

Does all this talk of ghosts make you want to laugh out loud? You're not alone. The New Zealand Skeptics Society is committed to finding the scientific facts behind claims of paranormal activity.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Travel

Travel

Not eggs benny: 11 interesting brunch spots in Christchurch

09 May 01:00 AM
Travel

Air NZ's premium economy v Skycouch: Which is the winner?

08 May 07:00 PM
Travel news

Air NZ to suspend Christchurch-Gold Coast flights over summer

08 May 03:47 AM

40 truly remarkable years

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Not eggs benny: 11 interesting brunch spots in Christchurch

Not eggs benny: 11 interesting brunch spots in Christchurch

09 May 01:00 AM

We’re not having a go at eggs benny.

Air NZ's premium economy v Skycouch: Which is the winner?

Air NZ's premium economy v Skycouch: Which is the winner?

08 May 07:00 PM
Air NZ to suspend Christchurch-Gold Coast flights over summer

Air NZ to suspend Christchurch-Gold Coast flights over summer

08 May 03:47 AM
Greg Foran defends exit from Air NZ top job amid aircraft problems

Greg Foran defends exit from Air NZ top job amid aircraft problems

08 May 02:17 AM
One pass, ten snowy adventures
sponsored

One pass, ten snowy adventures

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP