Media Releases

New podcast: Nark

Released at 12:03 pm on 23 October 2025

Thursday 23 October

Photo: Supplied

Listen to trailer
Mike Wesley-Smith reports on a story 40 years in the making in his new true crime podcast for RNZ Nark. It starts with the murder of Mt Eden Prison inmate Darcy Te Hira in 1985, and stress tests the Crown’s case against recidivist burglar Ross Appelgren, who was convicted of the murder – twice. The Crown’s case relied on evidence given by two prisoners, both with very chequered pasts. To Police, they were informants, to the Criminal underworld they were the worst type of human beings – narks. 

The story of Appelgren's quest to clear his name is unprecedented in the history of the New Zealand Criminal Justice System. Following his murder conviction, Appelgren escaped prison and became the first murder fugitive to participate in a live talkback show. In 1990 he succeeded in having his conviction overturned but was convicted again after a second trial in 1992. 

The revelation of undisclosed evidence meant his case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Governor-General for a second time in 1994, where it has sat unheard and undetermined ever since. Appelgren died in 2013, still fighting to clear his name, adamant his conviction had been bought and paid for by the Crown. 

In making Nark, Wesley-Smith has uncovered new evidence that raises further questions about Appelgren’s conviction. He has spoken to witnesses who have never spoken publicly before – or even to police. He has uncovered police documents that have remained secret until now and went on a search for the Crown’s key witness – the nark himself.

The podcast draws on Appelgren's unpublished memoir, which offers an intimate insight into his battle against the Crown, and coincides with a new push by Ross’ wife Julie to have his conviction quashed posthumously.

The podcast also put Ross' defence under the microscope, drawing on new witnesses and documentary evidence that cast doubt on Ross' claim he was not involved in the murder. 

With the blessing of Appelgren's family, producers have utilised AI to recreate his voice by using audio from historical radio interviews to teach AI his voice patterns and then applying that to his own words from the memoir and interviews, allowing his voice to be part of the podcast. Following RNZ's AI Principles, the AI voice has been used according to strict ethical guidelines and will only speak words Ross himself wrote.

RNZ’s Executive Editor, Audio Tim Watkin says Nark is a gripping true story, with revelations throughout.

“There are cover ups, anonymous notes, a convicted fraudster, New Zealand’s most expensive witness protection programme complete with secret deals and cash cheques, a jail break, love stories and a heap of surprising twists.  Most importantly, there are questions for the public to consider, questions about whether two juries heard the whole story and if Ross Appelgren’s conviction is safe.

“We’re really excited to be able to bring Ross Appelgren's voice into the podcast with the help of AI, adding a different dimension to the storytelling, and several key people connected to the case are interviewed for the first time."

This epic true crime podcast launches on Tuesday 28 October, with three episodes released each week on rnz.co.nz/podcasts and podcast platforms, with the opportunity for a deeper dive at rnz.co.nz/nark. Nark will be broadcast on RNZ National on Sundays at 7pm from 2 November.

Mike Wesley-Smith biography

Mike Wesley-Smith has extensive experience as an investigative journalist, lawyer and investigator. 

His investigative podcast - Grove Road - about Alan Hall's wrongful conviction for murder helped free Mr Hall from prison and have his conviction overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022. He also produced the award-winning Newsroom podcast Powder Keg which examined the actual health impact of the AG1 nutritional supplement and charted the meteoric rise of the AG1 company CEO 'Chris the Kiwi' from his criminal past in New Zealand to multi-millionaire.

Mike was the lead investigator for the Abuse in Care Inquiry into the torture of children at Lake Alice Hospital and headed investigations for the Independent Inquiry into abuse at Dilworth School. 

He currently lives in Wellington with his wife, four kids, a cat and a dog.

About the AI process

The use of AI in Nark was carefully considered by RNZ’s AI Working Group and in consultation with Ross Appelgren’s immediate family and estate. We’re conscious recreating the voice of a deceased criminal is unprecedented and will be questioned by some. RNZ’s reasoning is that the investigation behind this podcast has raised significant questions for New Zealand’s justice system and the safety of Appelgren’s conviction. It seems fair to give Appelgren a voice in this story.

Appelgren’s appeal breaks new legal ground. Following the precedent set by the Peter Ellis case, his legal team is trying to have his murder conviction quashed posthumously in what would be a New Zealand first. The courts are willing to hear his appeal even though he is deceased. In that spirit, RNZ feels it’s reasonable to let Appelgren speak in his own defence. We are literally giving him a voice in a story that centres around him, just as we have gone to great lengths to hear from everyone involved in this case.

To be very clear, Appelgren’s AI voice only says words he wrote during his lifetime. The podcast has no imagined scenes, no AI-generated words. Prior to AI, we would have used an actor to voice what Appelgren has written. Now, we can let listeners hear Appelgren says his own words in his own voice. His family tell us the voice we’ve created does sound like him.

Our thanks to his family for their blessing and to Mediaworks for their willingness to let us use the interviews Appelgren gave to Radio Pacific to teach AI how he spoke.

ENDS