An Auckland ghost story

BY DEBRA HUNT
Last updated 05:00 15/09/2009
Ghost
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: Property manager Brigid Curran sent in this photo of a Helensville property taken on her phone. A mysterious figure appears in the photo by the fence.
Ghost close up
CLOSE UP: A close up of of the figure behind the fence.

Relevant offers

A property manager got a fright when a ghostly figure turned up in a photo she had taken.

Brigid Curran used her cellphone to take some pictures of a rural Helensville property she oversees, and it was not until she returned to her office that Brigid saw what appeared to be the figure of a woman standing in the background by the fence.

"I thought, hang on. There was no one standing there when I took the photo," she says.

Brigid sent the photo to the tenant, Janet Stansfield, who replied saying she was unfazed.

"Oh that’s just my Maori lady, she likes my garden," she told Brigid.

Janet, who moved into the house a year ago, says the woman’s presence has been there the whole time.

"As soon as Brigid sent me the photo I knew exactly who it was," she says.

"She doesn’t look like an ancient Maori lady. She looks like she’s wearing a t-shirt."

"I don’t know how many times I have seen her since I moved here. I’m used to her being around, so it’s not a big deal for me."

Janet says her house is also home to the spirit of a cat.

"I’ll see the cat out of the corner of my eye sometimes, and think it’s my cat, but then I’ll look for him and there’s nothing there.

"I’m always a person that tries to look for an explanation."

She says she didn’t see anyone else at the time Brigid took the photo.

Janet says her daughter has also seen the woman and the cat.

"Some people can see them, some can’t," she says.

"But people are becoming more open about it. It used to be taboo to talk about it."

Janet started seeing spirits as a very young child, and says others in her family also have the ability to see them.

She says it has not always been an acceptable thing to talk about though.

"My great-grandmother was institutionalised for being able to see them," she says.

- Debra Hunt is an AUT journalism student

Ad Feedback

- © Fairfax NZ News

59 comments
Post a comment
King   #59   01:51 pm Sep 17 2009

Without other photos of the back yard it's impossible to draw any conclusion.

It's like an ink-blotter test. People will see what their disposition wants them to.

jay   #58   11:26 am Sep 17 2009

looks more like a box stuck to the telephone pole. nothing like a person

Patricia Jan Roberts   #57   09:43 am Sep 17 2009

To the people saying that its laughable regarding the ghost being too tall, Um well if its a ghost, then surely it can manipulate itself due to it being of different density to ourselves...just maybe, she made her appear this tall, so that she would be seen in the photo.

Ash   #56   09:43 pm Sep 16 2009

This has WTF written all over it

kyle   #55   01:20 pm Sep 16 2009

#37 - hahahahahah!!!!! that was brilliant timing.

what the...   #54   11:58 am Sep 16 2009

HATCH 51???>>>>>

SCARECROW COULDVE USED A CHAIR YA KNOW????!!!! :L:L

****   #53   11:38 am Sep 16 2009

To the people dissapointed by the quality of this article: i love this- guaranteed the same people writing these comments are the same people bagging the students that drunk at the undie 500 and caused riots AND NOW your bagging the student who not only studys but has her work published in newspapers and Stuff AND ACTUALLY OBVIOUSLY STUDYS. This article is a matter of personal opinion- doesnt mean we want to hear your opinion. If you think its a load of crap dont read it.

Victoria   #52   11:34 am Sep 16 2009

Pity she used a rubbish cellphone camera to take the pictures. Would have been a lot more interesting (and less pixellated) had she used a proper camera. As for whether it's a ghost or not, well, seems everyone's got an opinion on that. I don't think it is. Some people do. Who cares.

I hope Debra realises her article has much better spelling, grammar and punctuation than the rest of the articles on this website. And, as a student, you don't exactly get to pick and choose what you report on. So, Debra, you have done a good job, and I hope you go far in your field. You'd get an A+ from me.

Hatch   #51   09:45 am Sep 16 2009

Amazing how worked up we get over just about anything these days isnt it. I for one like to read stuff like this and like most (I hope) do not need to read the sad attacks against the journo. Save it for the stuff that counts guys. Also, as I have read. If the fence is 6 foot then the one behind it must be what 12 foot? Hmmm has perspective ever entered into the equation of those who choose to blow their horn over this one? I think, and correct me if I am wrong, that those who are so scathing in their attacks are merely attemping to mask their own fear of such a possibility by so passionately responding.

Courtney   #50   09:39 am Sep 16 2009

@ #37 LMAO. You rock my socks.


Show 1-49 of 59 comments

Post comment


Required

Required. Will not be published.
Registration is not required to post a comment but if you , you will not have to enter your details each time you comment. Registered members also have access to extra features. Create an account now.


Maximum of 1750 characters (about 300 words)

I have read and accepted the terms and conditions
These comments are moderated. Your comment, if approved, may not appear immediately. Please direct any queries about comment moderation to the Opinion Editor at blogs@stuff.co.nz
Special offers
Opinion poll

Which word or phrase do you find most annoying?

Whatever

Like

You know

Just sayin'

Seriously

None of the above

Vote Result

Related story: 'Whatever' world's most annoying word: poll

Featured Promotions

Sponsored Content