Crime and punishment

Crime timeline

Crime timeline

A timeline of some of the most notable New Zealand crimes since 1842. Each crime is also presented on a map more...

Baby farmers

Baby farmers

Baby farmers were paid caregivers who neglected children in their care or even deliberately murdered them. The most notorious was Minnie Dean, the only woman to be hanged for murder in New Zealand. more...

Maungatapu murders, 1866

Maungatapu murders, 1866

The story of how the 'Burgess gang' murdered and thieved their way around the South Island. Over two bloody days in June 1866, they killed five people on the Maungatapu track near Nelson. more...

The death penalty

The death penalty

On 18 February 1957 Walter Bolton mounted the gallows – known as 'the meccano set' – and was hanged for the murder of his wife Beatrice. He was the last New Zealander to be executed for murder. more...