u/hopeyy2

A decade after her disappearance, the case of Fiona Wills remains one of Hawke’s Bay’s most enduring mysteries. In December 2014, the 77-year-old vanished from her family’s rural property at Trelinnoe Garden Park near Te Pōhue after going to feed her chickens. Wills, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s and grieving the recent loss of her husband, was physically fit and capable of walking long distances, raising uncertainty about how far she may have travelled. Extensive searches involving police, rescue teams, helicopters, and large numbers of volunteers combed the property and surrounding areas, but no trace of her was ever found.

Over the years, her family, particularly her son Bruce Wills, has reflected on the disappearance and the search efforts, acknowledging both the scale of the operation and the lingering questions about whether every area was fully covered. Despite occasional reported sightings or discoveries of items, none have led to answers. The family has largely come to terms with the belief that she likely died somewhere in the landscape she loved, but the absence of any physical evidence means the mystery remains unresolved.

Laing, D. (2024, December 6). A decade after the mystery disappearance of Fiona Wills: “We never found a thing.” NZ Herald; The New Zealand Herald. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/a-decade-after-the-mystery-disappearance-of-fiona-wills-we-never-found-a-thing/ZQM3AQI7D5BJ3FDWP7AG3FX2FM/

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The Lundy murders is one of New Zealand’s most controversial true crime cases. On 29 August 2000, Christine Lundy and her 7-year-old daughter Amber were found brutally murdered in their Palmerston North home, both killed by repeated blows from a weapon believed to be similar to a tomahawk, which was never found. Christine’s husband, Mark Lundy, was on a business trip at the time but was later convicted in 2002 after the prosecution argued he secretly travelled home to commit the murders before returning the same night. Lundy has always maintained his innocence, and his conviction was overturned in 2013 due to concerns about forensic evidence, leading to a retrial in 2015 where he was again found guilty under a revised timeline. The case remains heavily debated to this day due to disputed forensic evidence and lingering unanswered questions, and after serving around 23 years in prison, Lundy was released on parole in 2025 while his case continues to be reviewed.

Lundy murders. (2021, April 19). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lundy_murders

‌EDIT: My geographically-challenged brain didn't realise that Palmerston North is in the Manuwatu-Whanganui region, as told by a kind commenter, so don't mind my mistake, I will keep this thread up though. Cheers :)

Mona Blades was an 18-year-old who disappeared on 31 May 1975 while hitchhiking from Hamilton to Hastings for a family event. She was last seen getting into an orange Datsun station wagon on the Napier-Taupō Road. Despite a massive investigation, including interviews with hundreds of vehicle owners and multiple reported sightings, she was never found.

Over the years, police have investigated several suspects and possible burial sites, but no one has been charged. The case remains unsolved and is treated as a presumed murder, with periodic reviews and appeals for new information.

Mona Elizabeth Blades - 1975. (2018). New Zealand Police. https://www.police.govt.nz/stolenwanted/coldcase/2020/mona-elizabeth-blades-1975

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The 2008 murder of Chattrice Maihi-Carroll in Napier remains unsolved and is often described as a “whodunit.” She was found brutally stabbed in her home, with no signs of forced entry, suggesting she likely knew her killer. Despite extensive forensic testing, including over 150 DNA samples, no evidence conclusively identified the attacker, highlighting how modern DNA analysis can sometimes create confusion rather than clarity.

Police focused on her neighbour, Zion King and built a case based largely on circumstantial evidence and alleged statements he made. However, no forensic evidence linked him to the crime, and inconsistencies in witness accounts led prosecutors to drop the case before it reached a jury.

Several mysteries remain unresolved, including unidentified DNA found on a drinking glass and whether Maihi-Carroll was expecting a visitor that night. Ultimately, the case is defined by uncertainty, with no one convicted and key questions about the killer still unanswered.

Chisholm, D. (2013, November 19). Metro — A Stab in the Dark: The Murder of Chattrice Maihi-Carroll. Metromag.co.nz. https://www.metromag.co.nz/society/society-crime/a-stab-in-the-dark-the-murder-of-chattrice-maihi-carroll

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The Disappearance of Kirsa Jensen is an unsolved case from Napier in 1983. Kirsa, a 14-year-old girl, went out riding her horse but never returned home. Her horse was later found alone near the Tūtaekuri River, and witnesses reported seeing her with a man and a white utility vehicle around the time she vanished.

Despite extensive searches and multiple suspects, including a man who later confessed and then retracted, it was never solved, and no one has been charged. Police believe she was likely abducted and murdered, making it one of New Zealand’s most well-known cold cases.

crime.co.nz. (2026). Crime.co.nz. http://www.crime.co.nz/c-files.aspx?ID=34

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