Crimes NZ

Episod

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  Case #055 - Helen Gregory 12.08.2026 31min

  On September 5, 2025, Julia DeLuney was sentenced to 18 years in jail for the murder of her mother. RNZ's Kate Green covered the trial which heard details of how 79-year-old Helen Gregory was brutally killed in her own home.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Black Sheep Bonus: the story of Robert Wallath 02.09.2024 46min

  From Black Sheep: In 1892 a masked figure in a bizarre uniform began a 15 month crime spree, robbing people at gunpoint in and around New Plymouth. When he was finally arrested and unmasked, residents were dumbfounded to discovered the perpetrator was mild-mannered Robert Wallath - the teenage son of a local farmer and carpenter.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #054 - The Mysterious Suitcase & The Fraudster 05.07.2023 25min

  A suitcase was found floating in the Waitematā Harbour in 1966. Its contents kicked off an international manhunt and one of Aotearoa's biggest fraudsters. Joseph Sheehan BEM was a detective on the case.In 1966, the captain of the Salvation Army barge was heading up the Waitematā Harbour when he spotted a mysterious suitcase floating in the water.He fished it out and discovered documents from the cosmetics company Leidrum and Hartnell.A company which turned out to be a sham. The man behind it, Robert Gardner, had already left the country. Sending Joseph Sheehan, a detective sergeant at the time, on an international man.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #053 - Crooked Cop Michael Blowers 28.06.2023 18min

  Michael Blowers was a police officer, family man and pillar of the community. He was also stealing drugs from the police exhibit room and giving them to his mistress to sell. RNZ's Charlie Dreaver describes Blowers downfall.In 2014, former police detective Michael Blowers was sent to prison for five years on a raft of drug-related offences.For years he had been stealing drugs from the Whangarei police exhibits room and giving them to his mistress to sell.RNZ reporter Charlie Dreaver was in the courtroom for his trial and describes how his downfall shocked the Northland community.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #052 - The Unsolved Murder of Arthur Blomfield 21.06.2023 18min

  True crime writer Scott Bainbridge takes us through the unsolved murder of pharmacist Arthur Blomfield, who was bludgeoned to death in his Auckland store, Mackay's Dispensary, in 1931.In 1931, just before closing time, pharmacist Arthur Blomfield was bludgeoned to death at the back of Mackay's dispensary on Wellesley Street in central Auckland.His killer has never been found.True crime author Scott Bainbridge talks us through the details of this case and shares who the prime suspect might be.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #051 - The Trial of Alan Hall 14.06.2023 26min

  Alan Hall spent nearly two decades in jail for the 1985 murder of Arthur Easton. In 2022 his convictions were quashed. Stuff journalist Mike White explains the flaws in the case against Hall and Geoff Hall talks about his brother's life after prison.In 1985, Arthur Easton was murdered by a bayonet wielding intruder, in his Papakura home.His two sons were also injured trying to fight off the attacker.In 1986, Alan Hall was convicted of the crime and spent 19 years in jail. But he has always protested his innocence and 37 years after Easton's death, Hall's convictions were quashed. Stuff senior investigative reporter Mike White and Alan's brother Geoff share details of the case and Hall's fight for justice.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #050 - Conman Wayne Eaglesome 07.06.2023 23min

  Stuff's senior crime reporter tells Jesse Mulligan about his ongoing hunt for one of Aotearoa's most prolific conmen.For two decades Wayne Eaglesome has committed hundreds of crimes across the country.He has used 40 different aliases and has been convicted of 250 offences, for both fraud and sexual crimes.Stuff senior crime reporter Sam Sherwood came across Eaglesome several years ago and has followed his nefarious career both in Aotearoa and now, across the world. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #049 - The Trial of Pedro Cleven 31.05.2023 29min

  In this episode we hear about one of our country's most sensational trials - that of headhunters gang member Pedro Cleven.Through the late 90s and into the early 2000s police ran operation Mexico in a strike a blow at the Headhunters gang.They nabbed Peter 'Pedro' Cleven on cannabis and methamphetamine charges and what followed as a trial like no other. Patrick Gower talks to Jesse Mulligan about covering the sensational trial of headhunters gang member Pedro Cleven.Journalist Patrick Gower was just a cadet reporter for the New Zealand Herald back then and recalls sitting through the unforgettable court case.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #048 - The Abandonment of Pumpkin 04.01.2023 24min

  It was a case that shocked the world. A 3-year-old abandoned in an Australian train station, her mother murdered in New Zealand and her father on the run in America.In September 2007 a three-year-old girl was found abandoned at Melbourne's Southern Cross railway station.Initially authorities were unable to verify her identity, so they gave her the nickname "Pumpkin" after the Pumpkin Patch branded clothing she was wearing.But "Pumpkin" was actually Qian Xun Xue and her father Nai Yin Xue abandoned her after killing her mother back in New Zealand.Simon Scott was the Detective Senior Sergeant in charge of the investigation that crossed three international borders.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #047 - Sophie Elliott 27.12.2022 24min

  In January 2008, Gil Elliott received the worst news possible. His 22-year-old daughter Sophie had been stabbed to death. He talks to Jesse Mulligan about those moments, the horror that followed and his fight for change.In 2008, Sophie Elliot was stabbed to death by her former partner, Clayton Weatherston.Since her death, her family have been tirelessly campaigning for changes to prevent another case like hers.Gil Elliott talks to Jesse about the dreadful events of January 2008 and the fight for victims rights and changes to policies to stop academic staff having relationships with students.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #046 - The Unsolved Murder of Elsie Walker 21.12.2022 27min

  The 1928 murder of Elsie Walker is one of New Zealand's oldest cold cases. She disappeared from the Bay of Plenty and her body was discovered by schoolboys, days later, in Auckland.Elsie Walker went missing from the Bay of Plenty and was found dead in Auckland days later.She was discovered by some young boys and was still wearing her maid's uniform. Crime author, Scott Bainbridge wrote about this mysterious case in his book Shot in the Dark. He talks to Charlotte Ryan about the details of Elsie's life and death. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #045 - Taito Phillip Field 14.12.2022 24min

  In 2009, Taito Phillip Field was convicted of bribery and corruption and sentenced to six years in prison. Lockwood Smith was an opposition MP and recalls keeping the pressure on in parliament, to ensure Field was held to account.Taito Phillip Field was a minister in the Labour government when he was accused of using his position for personal gain.The Right Honourable Sir Lockwood Smith was Opposition spokesperson on Immigration when the allegations first came to light and maintained continued pressure on the Minister during parliament question time.Taito Phillip Field eventually went to prison following a police investigation, becoming the first member of parliament to be convicted of bribery and corruption in New Zealand.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #044 - Emma Agnew 07.12.2022 22min

  In 2007, 20-year-old Emma Agnew put a sign up in her car advertising it for sale. A man answered the ad, but he wasn't interested in buying the car. As Stuff senior reporter Martin Van Beynan describes his intentions were far more sinister.20-year-old Emma Agnew disappeared in November 2007.Emma and her entire immediate family were deaf and well-known within New Zealand's deaf community.The alarm was raised almost immediately, but it would be 12 days before her body would be found in forest north of Christchurch.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #043 - A Conman Gets Conned 30.11.2022 32min

  Emma Ferris loaned $300,000 to her boyfriend only to discover he was conning her. In this episode of Crimes NZ, Emma describes the battle for her life-savings and her future.In 2018 Emma Ferris began relationship with Andrew Thomson, an entrepreneur with colourful stories about his past and future ventures.Emma loaned a large sum to the conman believing it was destined for legitimate investment. The very next day she found out he wasn't who he said he was. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #042 - The Timaru Poisonings 11.05.2022 26min

  In 1886 the bustling town of Timaru was stunned when society darling Thomas Hall was arrested for the attempted murder of his wife, Kitty. Author Peter Graham outlines one of the most sensational cases of 19th century New Zealand.In 1886, as he sentenced Thomas Hall to life in prison for the attempted poisoning of his wife Kitty Hall, the presiding judge said: "You have achieved in the annals of crime the position of being the vilest criminal ever tried in New Zealand."Tom Hall was part of a rich and influential family in Timaru, but when he ran into financial troubles, his solution was to marry a rich wife, have a child with her and then kill her.Peter Graham, author of Vile Crimes: the Timaru Poisonings recounts his discoveries of what might be New Zealand's first celebrity trial.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #041 - The Bain Family Murders 04.05.2022 24min

  David Bain spent 13 years in prison after being found guilty of killing his family in 1994 - however he always maintained his innocence and he was acquitted in a retrial in 2009.On the 24th of June, 1994, Robin (58) and Margaret Bain (50) and three of their children, Arawa (19), Laniet (18) and Stephen (14), were found dead in their Dunedin home.Four days later, the only surviving family member - 22 year-old David Bain - was arrested for their murders.Martin van Beynan's written extensively on the Bain family murders, including his own podcast Black Hands.David Bain was found guilty of murder in 1995 and sentenced to 16 years in prison.But in 2009, he was acquitted at a retrial. Stuff senior reporter Martin van Baynen sat through the three month retrial and does not believe the evidence pointing to Robin Bain being the murder stacks up.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #040 - Delcelia Witika 27.04.2022 18min

  The presiding judge described the death of Delcelia Witika as one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse to come before the High Court. David Mcloughlin covered the case.Delcelia Witika's mother and stepfather were both were sentenced to 16 years in jail, for her manslaughter.A judge described this case as the most disturbing to come before the High Court.Delcelia was just two years old when she died as a result of peritonitis, caused by blows to her stomach.Former Herald journalist, David McLoughlin, recalls covering the case and the dramatic revelation of a video showing the couple partying while the toddler was at home dying.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #039 - Aramoana 20.04.2022 19min

  In November 1990, thirteen people were shot and killed in the seaside village of Aramoana. Tim Ashton was a member of the anti-terrorism squad that was sent in to stop the gunman. Thirty-three year-old David Gray began shooting after a confrontation with one of his neighbours over a dog.By the end of his rampage, 13 people were dead and several others were injured.The police's anti-terrorism squad was sent in to stop David Gray's shooting rampage.It is New Zealand's second deadliest mass shooting, after the Christchurch mosque attacks which saw 51 people killed.Tim Ashton was a member of the Anti-Terrorist Squad who was sent in to stop Gray. He shares his recollections of the day and his subsequent battle to change gun legislation.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #038 - The David Ross Ponzi Scheme 13.04.2022 20min

  David Ross was jailed in 2013 for running a ponzi scheme that resulted in thousands of New Zealand investors losing millions of dollars.David Ross, the former director of the failed company Ross Asset Management, was jailed in November 2013 for 10 years and 10 months, with a minimum non-parole period of half that time.The ponzi scheme he'd been running collapsed in 2012, owing investors $115 million.Ross's fraudulent scheme was frozen in 2012 with 200 investors who had made money and 600 who lost money. A year later, he pleaded guilty to charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Markets Authority.At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Denys Barry called Ross a liar and a thief and said the scale of his offending is unprecedented in New Zealand.Former New Zealand Herald Wellington business editor Hamish Rutherford describes how he came to follow the story and what he discovered.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Case #037 - Robert Gawith 06.04.2022 22min

  In 1987, pig hunters stumbled upon the body of Robert Gawith kicking off a murder inquiry with links to the infamous Mr Asia drug syndicate.It was a case that sparked headlines like 'NZ's Bonnie and Clyde' or 'Lawless Lovers' when it was discovered that a couple with links to the Mr Asia crime syndicate were behind the murder of 23 year-old Robert Gawith.Robert Gawith was celebrating a hefty payout when he was brutally murdered by couple Patrick and Jennifer Norton-Bennett.Former police officer, Wayne Kiely worked on the case and talks about how the death of the young man was solved and became the undoing of a key player in the Mr Asia Drug syndicate.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details