Two years ago TRM published what they described as their “Mockumentary”. The plot ruffled a lot of feathers and many requested clarification. Every week we hear the same questions… How much of the story is true? Where is the skull now? Is the skull real? Where did the idea of finding the skull come from? Is Sonny Jim a real person? etc…

It is now two years since the first publication in 2020. The continued response has given us enough confidence to do another print run – the fifth! Four more than ever anticipated… Meanwhile I will try to answer some of the most persistent questions…

I am not an author. The original idea for the plot emerged in 2019 on a bike packing holiday with my son – a father/son bonding trip, biking around the East Cape coastal road from Opotiki to Gisborne and back on the Motu/Pakihi Trail. Each day after we had reached our destination we pitched our little pup tent to recover and talked about all sorts of stuff. Prior to our ride, I had no intention of writing anything. It is obvious he must have inspired me, so it is only fair he should take full responsibility for all complaints about the devious plot. There was no phone reception in remote locations, and after we had thrashed every subject that fathers try to bore their sons with so, to fill in the time, he helped with an outline draft of the curious plot which just gradually emerged on my iPhone. By the time we returned ten days later we were up to chapter five or six and the rest of the story flowed from there.

Despite some local folk actually believing it, the discovery of the skull up the Tongariro River was pure make-believe BS of course. The original idea of discovering the pre-Maori skeleton could have been hatched from the biography of Trevor Hosking, an out-of-print publication describing his life and in particular, his excavations as the Government appointed archaeologist for the Tongariro Hydro scheme. Under the Tokaanu Power Station tailrace, he discovered ancient buried villages and moved the remains from over 70 graves onto the hill behind Tokaanu.

The surprise was when the artifacts were carbon dated at around 400 AD – about 800 years before the Maori arrived. These original moa hunters had light skin and red hair which was also confirmed in other books such as Kakahi by Peter McIntyre. Even the local Tuwharetoa chief confirmed their presence in historic records.

Soon after I started assembling the plot someone sent me the publication above – further confirmation. We still do not know who sent it or how they even found out we were trying to compose a story around it. So this is another belated “Thankyou” to whoever was responsible.

It is strange how the official Government records continue to try to deny these original ancestors existed. Many have suggested they do not understand why the revised new history for schools is only since 1840. As such, it was inevitable that someone had to write about it. As my history knowledge is sketchy at best, it was included in the fictitious plot.

The hope was to use profits (if any) towards conservation projects on the Tongariro River. For about ten years TRM has been trying to promote bike trail extensions north and south of the Tongariro River Trail. So far the council has not cooperated with our “vision”. We tried to introduce tourist information panels along the walking/biking trail to explain some of the history of the fishing pools etc. but again they refused to help. They will blame me of course. But at last we have found a little project to direct some of the huge $ profits. A local resident has arranged for a park seat to soon be installed along the river walk in a sunny position with wonderful river views, where a rest stop has long been overdue. We cannot say where of course or Toe-paw Council will be on their way to confiscate it – they will just have to eventually discover it for themselves and then decide what to do.

Above is a photo of Sonny Jim helping carry his frail father on another bike trip. I am confident he will deny everything.

To try to clear up the rumours and confusion after two years we feel obliged to respond to some of the other persistent questions – Q & A below:

Was there a skull at all? No.

Was the side story about the van Dyck self portrait true? Yes.(see photo below)

Was there a “Turangi Treaty”? No.

Did someone really try to burn down TRM’s fence? Yes.

Was Sonny Jim’s car crashed and pushed into Lake Taupo? No.

Did we really receive death threats for posting a Fish & Game public release on the dangers of trout farming? Yes.

Is TRM going to be converted into a retirement village? No. (but watch this space…)

Did the two motel dogs, Boof & Pumpkin, really die by mysterious means? Yes.

Did Sonny Jim move in with the Asian broker Lucy? No.

Is there a TRM Ladies Committee? Yes. A committee of one. She is called SWMBO.

Will there be a sequel? No.

Is the Tongariro trout fishing as great as claimed? Yes.

Will the Government cancel the Waitangi Tribunal? Who knows…

Confused? So are we.