Man who died on Mount Pirongia ‘obsessed’ with mythical beliefs, ‘Crouching Man’ legend

“On 7 June 2019 Mr Shaw entered Pirongia Mountain Park to explore mythical beliefs with which he had become obsessed in the context of disordered thinking associated with his chronic use of methamphetamine,” the report said.

“The effects of his substance abuse disorder (methamphetamine) contributed to him subsequently becoming exposed and developing hypothermia during his expedition.”

Shaw was found on November 9, 2019, undressed and on the mountain to the east of Wharauroa lookout, 400 metres from a track.

The report noted that Shaw, 44, had told friends he was planning a trip into the mountain “to locate the ‘Crouching Man’.”

Coroner Heidi Wrigley said drug use contributed to Richard Shaw’s exposure death on Mt Pirongia Mountain in 2019.
SUPPLIED/NELSON POLICE

He was also said to have been a cannabis and methamphetamine user at the time of his disappearance, described by Wrigley as “a chronic user of these illicit drugs, which resulted in disordered thinking and beliefs which contributed towards his death”.

Shaw also shared a number of paranoid beliefs with friends, and one said he had become “besotted with the notion there are maps, faces and carvings in rocks associated with the point between two peaks in Mt Pirongia where the ‘Crouching Man’ had come to earth”.

One friend described Shaw as “being fixated on an energy driven lay-line running through Ngāhinapōuri and Tauwhare”.

Another friend of Shaw’s said he had become interested in the “Waipu Forest legend”.

“The legend, as he understood it, related to a cave system which runs from the coast at Raglan, inland to the Waikato.”

As Shaw’s interest in these legends grew, he also “began collecting rocks and spoke of the spiritual forms he believed they could take”.

“Other associates and family members of Mr Shaw reported to police Mr Shaw’s obsession with rocks from Pirongia Mountain, which Mr Shaw contended were valuable for various reasons.”

Wrigley noted Shaw appeared to be aware of his worsening mental health, telling a former girlfriend he was “going insane”.

He rejected her advice to seek help from a doctor, however, “expressing fear he would be locked away as he knew he was going crazy”.

The report noted a regular walker on the mountain had noticed a car parked at the end of a road that serviced mountain users, and alerted police to its presence.

The car was identified as being used by Shaw, and a search of the area commenced with police and Land Search and Rescue, with Shaw’s remains being located on November 9, 2019.

A later pathological examination by Dr Duncan Lamont said Shaw’s death was “consistent with hypothermia due to exposure”.

“I accept that opinion and find hypothermia due to exposure was the primary cause of Mr Shaw’s death,” Wrigley said.

She also said she was satisfied “substance abuse disorder is a condition which contributed to his death”.

“I find Mr Shaw entered Pirongia Mountain on June 7, 2019 due to his drug influenced interest in a legend associated with the mountain,” she said.

“I find that that interest or developing adverse weather conditions, or both, led him off-track where he became fatally exposed.”

Wrigley also said that due to Shaw’s unwillingness to discuss his drug use with his doctor, “I have identified no recommendation or comment I could usefully make to prevent further deaths like his”.

“I extend my sincere condolences to Mr Shaw’s family and friends for their loss.”