How far has the Mormon church gone to cover up abuse?
When journalist Murray Jones started looking into the church's finances in New Zealand, an intriguing Facebook post alerted him to a much bigger - and much darker - scandal.
From the NZ Herald, Heaven's Helpline is a six-part investigation into how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built a system that protects its wealth and reputation – and shields sexual predators from the law.
Listen to episodes weekly from October 17th. Funded by NZ on Air.
NZH Presents - Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History
40 years ago, two bombs went off in Auckland's harbour when French agents targeted a Greenpeace ship. It was meant to be a warning against anti-nuclear protests, but the death of a photographer on board sparked a major police and political response.
From the NZ Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions, this six-part series re-examines the bombing, the events leading up to it, the investigation that followed, and the ongoing fallout from this case and the French nuclear testing.
Search for 'A Forgotten History' on your preferred podcast app.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
18 Feb 2025TRANSCRIPT
NZH Presents - Mr Asia: A Forgotten History
In the 1970s, the Mr Asia drug syndicate was one of the largest sellers of heroin in the world. The group began in New Zealand, with two men at its centre: Marty Johnstone and Terry Clark.
As the syndicate spread around the world, for a few years, they were living the high life. And then, they started killing each other.
In the new season of A Forgotten History, from the New Zealand Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions, John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy revisit the lives and crimes of these two men, their associates, and how their actions changed drug culture in New Zealand.
Episodes available now wherever you get your podcasts.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
13 Nov 2024TRANSCRIPT
Episode 6: Breaking the Shelf
Can the Mormon church be reformed? Murray meets campaigners inside and outside of the church who are pushing to change the way it handles sexual abusers. He asks: should the law be changed in New Zealand to force the church to do the right thing?
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
6 Nov 2024TRANSCRIPT
Episode 5: Another Helpline
Murray calls New Zealand’s Mormon Abuse Helpline – and guess who picks up? He then heads to Northland to meet a Mormon couple who made a very different kind of call. They blew the whistle on a prolific sex abuser in their midst – only to find that others in their congregation would prefer to keep on protecting him.
Sexual assault support services:
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
Call 0800 044 334
Text 4334
Email support@safetotalk.nz
For more information visit safetotalk.nz
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
30 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Episode 4: The Helpline
Warning: This episode contains content related to child sex abuse. Listen with care.
The seizure of a video from a New Zealand paedophile sparks a dizzying chain of events in faraway Arizona: an arrest, a suicide – and revelations that a serial child rapist had confessed to his Mormon bishop, and the church had used its “Abuse Helpline” to cover it up.
Family violence:
If you’re in danger now phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you.
Where to go for help or more information:
Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz (http://www.2shine.org.nz)
Women’s Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz
Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584
It’s Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz (https://www.areyouok.org.nz)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
23 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Episode 3: The Bishop's Tale
Murray hears tale after tale of abuse within Mormon congregations and at the centre of every story, there’s a “bishop”. Who are these men? Why are they so involved in members’ lives? And do their actions help the church keep crimes secret?
Family violence:
If you’re in danger now phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you.
Where to go for help or more information:
Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz (http://www.2shine.org.nz)
Women’s Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz\
Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584
It’s Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz (https://www.areyouok.org.nz)
Sexual assault support services:
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
Call 0800 044 334
Text 4334
Email support@safetotalk.nz
For more information visit safetotalk.nz
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
16 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Episode 1: The Business of Saving Souls
When journalist Murray Jones investigates the vast wealth of the Mormon church in New Zealand, an intriguing Facebook post alerts him to a scandal that’s much bigger, and much, much darker.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
16 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Explainer: A Brief History of Mormons in Aotearoa
What do Mormons actually believe? And how did this mega-wealthy American church gain such a foothold in New Zealand? (Please note: this is an optional episode for history lovers, so you can safely skip it without losing the thread.)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
16 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Episode 2: This Changes Everything
A fanatical “priesthood holder” pressures young Mormon Caroline into marriage and motherhood. When the relationship descends into extreme abuse, Caroline is rescued by a church leader, but others up the ranks are not so supportive. Whose side are they really on?
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
8 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Trailer - Coming soon
Heaven's Helpline begins on October 17th wherever you get your podcasts.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
71,722,313
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
257 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
547 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
91
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