Vanished in New Zealand: The Disappearance of Mona Blades
A Journey Cut Short
In the heart of New Zealand’s breathtaking North Island, a young woman’s carefree adventure turned into a chilling mystery that has gripped a nation for nearly half a century. On May 31, 1975, 18-year-old Mona Blades—vibra… Vanished in New Zealand: The Disappearance of Mona Blades
A Journey Cut Short
In the heart of New Zealand’s breathtaking North Island, a young woman’s carefree adventure turned into a chilling mystery that has gripped a nation for nearly half a century. On May 31, 1975, 18-year-old Mona Blades—vibrant, kind-hearted, and dreaming of a future in nursing—set out to hitchhike from Hamilton to Hastings, a surprise visit for her nephew’s first birthday. She was last seen climbing into an orange Datsun on a lonely highway… and then she was gone.
What followed was one of New Zealand’s largest manhunts—thousands of police hours, helicopters sweeping the rugged terrain, and a nation holding its breath. Yet, Mona left no trace. No body. No belongings. Just a haunting void. Was she taken by a predator hiding in plain sight? Did she cross paths with a dangerous gang in Taupo’s shadowy underbelly? Or does the truth lie in a twist no one has dared to imagine?
Join host Jay Nicoll on Ontario Cold Cases - Canada’s True Crime Podcast as he unravels the enigma of Mona Blades’ disappearance. From the vibrant streets of 1970s New Zealand to the eerie silence of Matea Road, this gripping episode of World Cold Case Thursday dives deep into conflicting sightings, flawed investigations, and chilling theories that refuse to fade. With every clue—from a mysterious Datsun to whispers of gang involvement—the stakes grow higher, and the questions burn brighter.
Will you uncover the key to Mona’s fate? Tune in to Ontario Cold Cases for a heart-pounding journey into a case that changed a nation—and a mystery that demands answers. Some stories don’t end—they haunt. Subscribe now and join the search for justice.
Because every case deserves answers—and every victim deserves justice.
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May 31, 1975. Hamilton, New Zealand. 18-year old Mona Blades leaves to hitchhike hundreds of kilometres in order to attend her nephew’s birthday in Hastings, but never arrives. After Mona is reported missing, witnesses would recall seeing her inside an orange Datsun station wagon with an unidentifie… May 31, 1975. Hamilton, New Zealand. 18-year old Mona Blades leaves to hitchhike hundreds of kilometres in order to attend her nephew’s birthday in Hastings, but never arrives. After Mona is reported missing, witnesses would recall seeing her inside an orange Datsun station wagon with an unidentified man. Over the years, investigators examine a number of different suspects, including a man who committed suicide only weeks after Mona went missing, a former traffic officer, and a biker gang. Who was actually responsible for Mona Blades’ disappearance? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” covers our first unsolved mystery from New Zealand, which happens to be one of the country’s famous missing persons cases. Special thanks to listener Loquin Britton for providing the opening narration for this episode.
Additional Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Blades_case
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12099766
http://www.police.govt.nz/stolenwanted/coldcase/2018/mona-elizabeth-blades-1975
http://www.tonybaloney.co.nz/index.html
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The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote.
All music is composed by Vince Nitro. more