Motive: The Lost

Two year-old Jefferie Hill went outside to play, saying, "I won't go away, Mummy." So how does mum Jo Reynolds and his family deal with the fact they've never seen him again? What happened to him? This series was first released on 24 November 2017. Watch a video segment from the episode here Jefferie Hill would be 52 years old today - but when his mother last saw him he was just a toddler. Jefferi...

Tracey Donnelly says her husband Jim's disappearance is illogical, and 13 years on, still believes there are answers to be found - in the Glenbrook Steel Mill. This series was first released on 17 November 2017. Watch a video segment from the episode here On Monday 21 June 2004, Jim Donnelly signed into work as usual. Thirteen years later, he still hasn't signed out. The 43-year-old father-of...

Shannel Yorke struggles to remember her mother, Judith, who disappeared in 1992, and retired cop Alan Collin talks of his determination to find peace for the family. This series was first released on 10 November 2017 Watch a video segment from the episode here At least one of about 30 people is believed to hold the key to the disappearance of mother-of-two Judith Yorke 25 years ago. The 25-year-ol...

Paloma Migone digs into the cold cases of those who never came home. In episode one, Robyn Jensen says she'll never give up hope of finding her daughter, Kirsa. This series was first released on 3 November 2017 Watch a video segment from the episode here Time is running out for Robyn Jensen. The 72 year-old hasn't seen her daughter, Kirsa, in more than 34 years. Kirsa was 14 when she went mis...

The true stories of New Zealand's missing people. Paloma Migone digs into the cold cases of those who never came home. Watch a video version of the trailer here This series first published in May 2017. Every year, thousands of New Zealanders go missing. On average about one every hour. Most are found quickly. But some are never seen again. They are the lost. RNZ's new five-part podcast, The L...

Peter Ellis was released from prison in 2000 - but that was by no means the end of the story. This episode looks at life after prison and the huge impact this case has had on the whole country. This series was first released on 12 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here . We'll never be sure what happened when Peter Ellis worked...

Peter Ellis spent more than seven years in prison, for a crime he says he didn't commit. He and others describe his time behind bars and the many surprises and revelations he faced. This series was first released on 11 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here . Peter Ellis is found guilty of 16 counts of abuse in relation to 7 childre...

Tensions run high as the High Court trial of Peter Ellis reaches its conclusion. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, visit the RNZ website here . The trial grinds on, loyalties are tested, and a sense of exhaustion sets in. Are there, as Ellis and his supporters claim, abuses of power by key witnesses such as leading chil...

The High Court trial into child abuse at the Christchurch Civic Creche begins on Monday, 26 April, 1993. Peter Ellis is charged with 28 counts against 13 children. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. Peter Ellis's friends rally round to help him scrub up his image and the trial begins. As t...

As the divisions in the community intensify, one year on from those first allegations, the preliminary court hearing against Peter Ellis and the four women begins. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. Together the five child care workers face 60 charges of sexual offending against 20 children. Ov...

Four female creche workers are arrested in a series of raids on their homes. A damning report into the creche culture is release and the child care centre is abruptly closed. This series was first released on October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here. By late 1992, four female creche workers had also been accused of abuse and arrested by p...

The children's stories get more and more bizarre and suddenly, others are in the frame too. This series was first released on 4 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. By October 1992, 119 children have been interviewed and their allegations range from violent nude dancing to rape and murder. Expert opinion varies on why children wo...

As more and more children come forward with accounts of abuse, we look at what the role the parents, police and expert child interviewers may have played. This series was first released on 3 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. What's happening for the 3 to 5 year old children at the centre of the investigation, some of whom...

Peter Ellis is arrested and charged with child sexual abuse. Creche parents are panicked and horrified. But what has really been happening at the creche? This series was first released on 2 October 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. The day Peter turns 34 his house is searched for incriminating material to corroborate the accusations o...

As more and more children came forward with claims of sexual abuse, we ask whether international events were influencing the case in Christchurch. This series was first released on 29 September 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the RNZ website here. As in similar cases a few years earlier in the US and Australia, rumours of ritual satanic abuse emerge amid...

There's fear and confusion after a child says 'I don't like Peter's black penis'. A second accusation causes the investigation to be ramped up. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here. A child's comment to his mother that he 'doesn't like Peter's black penis' leads to Peter being suspended by his shocked supervisor and sets of...

Who was Peter Ellis, the childcare worker at the centre of the accusations and how did he come to work there? Meet people with many different connections to what was to become New Zealand's most notorious child sexual abuse case. This series was first released on 29 September 2023. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here. Who was Peter Ellis, the chil...

What really happened at the Christchurch Civic Creche in the late 1980s and early 1990s? Was Peter Ellis wrongly convicted or should we believe the children. Listen to RNZ's new podcast and make up your own mind. To see more images and details about Peter Ellis and the series, vist the website here. In the early 1990's Aotearoa's garden city Christchurch was torn apart by accusations of...

While it's the end of Nark, it's not the end of RNZ's true crime podcasts - welcome to RNZ's latest super feed called Motive. Dedicated to all things true crime, keep following this podcast feed to get episodes every Tuesday from RNZ's true crime back catalogue, as well as brand new shows as they get released. Listen out for award winning series like Conviction, Gone Fishing, Mr Lyttle Meets Mr Bi...

You've reached the final episode of Nark, but it's far from the end of the story. Mike Wesley-Smith looks at all the pieces uncovered during his investigation, all the bits still missing and discovers the hopes Suzanne Young and Julie Appelgren hold for resolution. Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especi...

For years after the trials of Ross Appelgren, Ernie* had lived a quiet and crime-free life in Australia. But his domestic bliss didn’t last and the fallout resulted in a trans-Tasman diplomatic row. In this episode, Ernie* answers some of Mike’s lingering questions. *Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identity Read more stories and see images from Nark on the...

Five years after the death of Darcy Te Hira, two prison guards are quietly minding their own business when an inmate drops a bombshell. A confession that puts Ross Appelgren’s guilty verdict back in question. Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā...

Mike Wesley-Smith puts Ross Appelgren’s claims of innocence under the microscope in this episode. While much of what Mike’s uncovered so far puts question marks over Ross’ guilt, there are bits of the story that point to him being the killer. Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren an...

Ernie*, who had been living in Australia while Ross fought for his freedom, is back in court for the retrial. But as you’ll discover, he didn’t exactly come easily. And if you think you know how the story of Ross’ retrial ends – you’re in for a surprise. *Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identity Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website...

Ross Appelgren’s conviction is quashed, he begins rebuilding his life cementing a new future with his love – Julie. But his trials are not over – literally. In this episode we return to court for Ross’ retrial and hear the gobsmacking story of the inmate who flipped. Read more stories and see images from Nark on the RNZ website Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, espe...