Anyone been to the Kaimanawa Wall?

3^rd February 2025

In just over a month’s time, Bronwyn and I will be driving up to Auckland to visit New Zealand’s second Mormon temple. We’re also going to try to visit the Kaimanawa wall on the way, so if anyone’s been there and has any advice about driving the gravel road to the nearby camp site, I would love to hear from you. While in Auckland we’ll try to organise a Skeptics’ get together - maybe brunch somewhere on Sunday the 9th. So, if you’re in Auckland, we’d love for you to join us for a chilled out chat.

In this week’s newsletter, I draw some parallels between some old news of a scam, and some much more recent news of a very similar scam. Al Blenney tries to square his experience of seeing a cryptid in the South Island with the reality of being a skeptic. Katrina warns us about an asteroid that may hit earth in a few years’ time - and I’m trying to get my head around the reality of what the probability of it hitting us means. I’ve written a review of the recently released movie Heretic. We have the second and final part of Hamish’s look into claims of pre-Māori visitors to New Zealand. And finally we’re reproducing a second part of John Maindonald’s booklet about stats - this time chapter 4, focusing on medical statistics.

Mark Honeychurch

Honey: Kessler's Flying Circus on Steroids

Mark Honeychurch - 3 February 2025

For those who have been around in skeptical circles for a while, you're probably aware not only of skeptic Brian Dunning and his Skeptoid podcast, but also of his conviction for wire fraud, in a case where he was accused of cookie stuffing. Wikipedia summarises it nicely on Brian Dunning's Wikipedia page:

We Saw the Canterbury Panther!

Al Blenney - 3 February 2025

The "Canterbury Panther" is often described as a large, black, panther-like creature said to roam the rural South Island. It has become a subject of curiosity and intrigue for many, but when subjected to closer scrutiny, the story seems to unravel. Skeptical analysis of these sightings suggests that the mysterious panther may be nothing more than a combination of mis-identifications, myth-making, and the power of suggestion.

Incoming Asteroid just might hit earth

Katrina Borthwick - 3 February 2025

It's not a good day when a closer analysis of the path of a near-earth approaching asteroid doesn't rule out impact, but instead shows that it might actually hit earth in 2032.

Movie Review: Heretic

Mark Honeychurch - 3 February 2025

I'm a middle-aged guy who likes to spend time talking with Mormon missionaries, and by now I probably get visited about once every month or two by any new missionaries who turn up in the Porirua area. I had two missionaries visit me at the beginning of the new year, and another two just last week. I enjoy talking with them - both hearing their perspectives on their faith and the Mormon church, and trying to give them food for thought when it comes to some of the worse parts of their church organisation.

Who were the first New Zealanders? Addressing disinformation regarding Māori as not indigenous, part 2

Hamish Dickson - 3 February 2025

In the first part of this article, I looked at some of the common archaeological misconceptions used to spread doubt about Māori being the first to settle New Zealand. Having spent some time debunking some of the more common ideas floating around on social media, which are supposedly covered up to hide the “truth”, this second part will be devoted to looking at the more widely accepted versions of historical events.

Medicine and Health

John Maindonald - 3 February 2025

There is wide acceptance that the evidence provided by randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that are conducted to high standards is at the top of a hierarchy of evidence. Some web sources are listed below that, because they base their advice on careful and transparent evaluations of the available evidence, can be trusted.