OPINION: When I asked for potential New Zealand Today ideas for season three, cats going missing seems to be sadly a common problem in rural NZ.
The area between Bulls, Sanson and Halcombe has been labelled a "Bermuda Triangle for cats", as has a street in Invercargill.
Raglan is a special case, though, because rumours were started about a "cat killer" a few years ago.
A "Stop the Raglan Cat Killer" group was set up with a blog The Raglan Ripper. Soon, huge flags with the skull and crossbones logo were flying, and "Stop the Raglan Cat Killer" signs went up.
News reports flooded in from Stuff, the NZ Herald, Re: news and even Neighbours At War tried to crack the case. No one could.
Cat Killer Hysteria peaked about 2014 with alleged suspects being constantly harassed, their letterboxes being frequently vandalised and driveways spray-painted.
That year, the Herald reported that the police and SPCA searched a house after a dead cat was found in the dump and another one was found in their neighbour's bin - but no charges were laid.
No one has been able to crack this case - until now.
Normally, I would use this to tease my show New Zealand Today, (Thursday night at 8:30pm on Three) but the nature of this story means I feel like I need to fully explain and encourage people to stop harassing anyone they think is involved, or who they think is the killer, for two reasons.
Firstly, everyone is innocent until proven guilty - the police have investigated. And, secondly, I don't think the Raglan cat killer exists.
I spent weeks genuinely investigating this and hours talking to locals, and I think there is no credible evidence pointing towards someone intentionally killing cats in Raglan.
I'm sure weird things have happened, I'm sure cats have gone missing in suspicious circumstances and Raglan has had some bad years for cats.
But there is no credible evidence that there is a cat killer on the loose.
I'm not a journalist, a local or an expert. There are people in Raglan who I'm sure are convinced otherwise.
If someone can prove me wrong and provide credible evidence, or even a credible theory for a "Raglan cat killer" - I would be interested to hear it! Send me an email at nztodaylive@gmail.com.
My theory as to how this story became so big will be revealed on Thursday on New Zealand Today, 8:30pm on Three or catch up on ThreeNow.
Guy Williams hosts New Zealand Today.
