From strange lights dancing over the Firth of Thames to silent objects gliding above the Karangahake Gorge, the Hauraki-Coromandel region has long been a hotspot for mysterious activity in the skies. Now, a decades-old local mystery is about to be thrust into the global spotlight—thanks to a popular U.S.-based YouTube channel and documentary crew.
The creators behind the paranormal investigation channel Unexplained Cases are turning their cameras to Ngātea, where one of New Zealand’s most enduring UFO stories unfolded in 1969. And they want your help.
The documentary will focus on the so-called “Ngātea UFO landing,” an incident that has puzzled investigators and fascinated the public for over 50 years. On September 4, 1969, a local farmer named Bert O’Neill discovered a perfect patch of dead mānuka scrub on his rural property. Within that scorched area were three deep indentations in the earth, arranged in a precise triangular pattern—as if something large and heavy had briefly touched down and vanished without a trace.
Despite multiple investigations at the time, the cause of the damage was never conclusively identified. Experts ruled out chemical contamination, natural die-off, or farming equipment. A geiger counter that was swept over the site recorded radiation.
A hoax seemed improbable due to the scale and accuracy of the formation. Since then, the mystery has remained unsolved.
With growing international interest in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs)—the modern term for what we once called UFOs—the Ngātea case is being re-examined with fresh eyes. U.S. military officials and scientists have testified before Congress in recent years, claiming to have observed similar phenomena, giving once-dismissed stories like Ngātea’s new credibility.
Now, Unexplained Cases wants to hear from local residents. Whether you or a family member saw something unusual that day in 1969 or you’ve had your own inexplicable experiences in the skies above Hauraki since, your account could be crucial.
“Our goal is to preserve history by documenting the strange, paranormal, and unexplained,” said Executive Producer Rick Garner from the Unexplained Cases team. “People have carried experiences with them for decades. We want to give a voice to those who were there—or whose parents or grandparents were.”
Local interest in UAPs has surged in recent months. Social media is awash with accounts of strange lights and unexplained objects reported between Thames and Waihi Beach. While most have logical explanations—drones, satellites, or rare weather conditions—some defy easy answers.
The upcoming documentary aims to blend the historic Ngātea landing with modern eyewitness reports, highlighting the Hauraki region as one of New Zealand’s most intriguing UAP hotspots.
If you or someone you know has a story, photo, newspaper clipping, or memory related to the 1969 Ngātea incident—or any unexplained sighting in the region—you’re urged to come forward.
📩 Email your story to: rick@unexplainedcases.com
Let’s uncover the truth together. Ngātea’s greatest mystery may finally have its moment.
