Motive: The Lost

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...

Just as all hope appears gone, Ross Appelgren discovers further information that had been withheld from his defence team. And an unlikely ally appears – one who will become his staunchest supporter. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Young. And thanks to Ngā Taonga...

Ross Appelgren takes drastic measures to clear his name. In a nail-biting episode we relive his unsanctioned bid for freedom and his attempt to bring national attention to his case by going live on talkback radio. 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 t...

While Ross Appelgren is reeling from the murder conviction for a crime he said he didn’t commit, his lawyer launches an appeal. But Ross isn’t prepared to wait and Ernie’s* struggles with his bail conditions – put both men on a crash-course with the law – again. *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...

Leaks from Mt Eden force police to move on their main suspect for the murder of Darcy Te Hira and Ross Appelgren finds himself in the dock for the crime. This episode you’ll hear what the jury did – and all the bits they didn’t. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially Julie Appelgren and Suzanne Yo...

In return for his testimony Ernie* was moved from a cell to motel room, and promised money, relocation and early release from his sentence. His witness protection would become the most intricate covert police operation of its kind in New Zealand history. *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...

Ernie’s* journey from suspect to eye-witness is shrouded in secrecy and controversy. We look at how police came to place their entire case on Ernie’s* shoulders. And for the first time, Ernie* himself describes his role in the case against Ross Appelgren, and the terror of being in prison and labelled a Nark. *Names have been changed as they have name suppression or to protect their identity Read...

Let’s properly meet the two main characters in this story. Ross, the accused. A car thief and bank robber who’d spent a third of his life behind bars. And Ernie* the accuser. A fraudster whose arrest culminated in a police chase and with Ernie* dangling off Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. One would end up behind bars while the other became the Crown’s star witness. *Names have been changed as they have...

The investigation into the murder of Darcy Te Hira kicks off in earnest, but the police are stymied by the prisoner code of silence and a lack of forensic evidence at the murder scene. That is until a mystery note that leads them to a broken kitchen paddle. See images and read more about the series at www.rnz.co.nz/nark Special thanks to everyone who helped bring this podcast to life, especially J...