Publications

Address on the History of Spiritualism

This address was given at the tenth meeting of the National Council in the 50th year of incorporation. It gives a brief history of Spiritualism leading up to the passing of The Spiritualist Church of New Zealand Act (Act of Parliament No 2 of 1924) and establishment...

First ever broadcast by the “dead” in New Zealand – Nationwide programme sympathetically hosted by Errol Pike

5.00p.m., Sunday 22 August 1976, proved the start of what will go down in Spiritualist history as a milestone broadcast. For the first time, listeners heard voices from spirit life communicating with the “living”. The programme was entitled in The Listener “The Other...

Brief Sketch of Early Spiritualism in New Zealand

In 1866, Mrs Harris-Roberts arrived in New Zealand from England and became one of the first pioneers of Spiritualism in this country. She began conducting meetings at which she presented the beliefs and philosophy of the Movement. About 1896, she settled in Auckland...

Spiritualism in the 1990s

In these times of change and transition, we hear of many people outside the Spiritualist Church becoming aware of spirit presence around them. We read of other mediums in New Zealand and other countries, both on new age noticeboards and in magazines such as the...

Spirited Visions

A Study of Spiritualism in New Zealand Settler Society, 1870-90 This was the topic of Shaun D. Broadley’s thesis which he submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Otago, Dunedin in February 2000. The abstract is reproduced here and you can...

Bonanza Stanza

Is anybody happier because you passed his way? Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today? This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through Is there anyone to utter now a friendly word for you? Can you say tonight in passing, with the day that slipped so...

SCNZ on Air

“At a dozen unadorned buildings around the country, small congregations gather regularly for church services. There are no altars, no images and no cross, except perhaps a square one in a circle with a fernleaf in the centre…” This was the introduction to a National...

Psychics’ powers turn scientists into believers

A unique scientific experiment has produced startling evidence that some “spirit mediums” may indeed have paranormal talents. Scientists involved in the study at the University of Arizona say that the findings are so extraordinary, they raise fundamental questions...

The lion, a witch and her wardrobe

The strange case of the medium whose message upset the Admiralty at the height of World War II. Richard Ford reports. It was one of the strangest moments of World War II. In the propaganda battles of 1944, the British lion was preparing to roar back against the Nazis...

Everyday Spirituality:

100 Years: