2006 - 2021:
I've had such an amazing journey with Urban Exploration. I was 19 years old when my friend Sara suggested we go visit this abandoned hospital called Lake Alice. I was so enthralled, I went back the very next night. This sparked my interest, by 2008 (two years later) I had a website called lakealicehospital.com and I was asked by a Human Rights group to be involved in there fight for justice, this was a group that was fighting for fair compensation for past patients of whom had spent time in Lake Alice hospital as youths. All so very new to me, coming from a small country town, I would meet past patients and for a period become good friends with Kevin Banks, the stories and time I spent with Kevin made me more driven to support this cause, by 2010 I was New Zealand's youngest activist. While suffering with depression, I found assisting with this group as an outlet.
By 2009 with little online presence, no Instagram back in these days, nobody hardly knew what Urbex was (ahh the golden days) through a former forum called Slack Ninja I meet Bradd, during this time I had started my own website called Urban Explorers (now defunct) he and I together with a passion for a mutual hobby, formed Urbex NZ.
I've only but meet eccentric characters through this hobby, which has helped shape me. I'm the kind of person that when I do something, I'll do it good and I will go all out, Bradd always told me I tried to hard to impress people, I just enjoy the company of good people and thats what I found, we became a family, my rule was to have no rules and push the boundaries (well okay I had one rule, we don't speak to the media), I welcomed graffiti artists into the group and become a bit of a dad to the younger members, we would meet most weekends, spend birthdays and Christmas together. I even chucked a few massive illegal raves to which I became known for. But by 2012 we were in our prime, I had become the face of Urbex in New Zealand. The derelict St James theatre in Auckland was our hang out, and well everyone knew if you were invited to explore or drink with us at the St James, it was something special.
Urbex NZ is a massive part of New Zealands counter culture history, people only seem to see it for abandoned buildings but for us there was a rich culture behind what we were interested in and who we were.
I know at times it was challenging within the group to have a gay man as the leader, the dynamic often showed through the ranks and I was often questioned, I remember leaving a house party one night and thanking everyone for inviting me and saying goodbye, my friend turned around and said to me the next day "Can you not do that next time" I said "What, be polite" it wasn't seen as macho and manly, the strain on my relationship with boyfriend at the time Zak, made us often keep our relationship silent in social situations to not make people uncomfortable, this was extremely difficult, while everyone knew it existed it was almost like we weren't to talk about it, "Hi this is my friend Zak" I know it got to him, he always felt second best, nonetheless everyone treated him with respect, I never once heard a homophobic remark.
It was a different time and I'm a very direct person, so you either came along for the journey or got left behind. I encouraged open mindedness, I remember when my friend had just came out as transsexual, one of the places she was most accepted was within our group, because no one gave a fuck and thats the attitude I pushed, just be yourself.
When I see what I achieved and I look at other Urbex groups these days, I just realise I paved the way for a whole new generation, I'm really proud that I was a young gay guy from a lower class family in South Auckland who pushed all the boundaries and did things my way, it was never easy, but it was an incredible learning experience.
Why there is so many people I want to thank over the past 10 years, I wish to give special note to my best friend Kayla, thank you for coming to these abandoned places even though you hated it. My friend Robert who I meet through Urbex thank you for putting up with me even when I always thought I was right and for our many drunken journeys (Lion Brewery), Jasper De Seymour you are the only reason I appreciate my youtube videos thank you for believing in me- all the way to Melbourne, my friend James- thank you for letting me live on your sofa and making me awful pasta and creating the infamous Urbex logo, Zak Marlow I love you and I'm sorry we never got to say goodbye before you took your own life- I appreciated having you at my side through this journey, Addict, Turps and Eufat your influences upon the group made you important individuals I can't thank you all enough for bringing your quirky personalities and the graffiti culture to Urbex, my dear friend, Johan. I love you and thank you for not running away after our first "date" in the abandoned Adelaide hotel in Welly. I will never forget our many wild adventures, my cave clan friend and best mate Howza thanks for having my back when everyone else told you I was bad news. Gemma Duncan for showing me how unique and individual we all were, Nick for joining the group even though everyone said I was wreckless, my father who sadly has dementia now- thank you for breaking the rules with me and allowing me to create my own direction, my two brothers Jesse & Toby for coming along on my spontaneous adventurers and having a trespass notice to take to school as a show and tell at age 10, Special thanks to Tully, Maggie, Koi, Jennifer and Carrie for all being apart of Urbex NZ.
Thank you to everyone who followed us online, meet up and to all the international people I meet along the way, I have life long friends now, I'm sure I've missed a tone of people, thanks for coming on this journey with me.
Most of all, Bradd
I know we are no longer friends and have since parted.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me, driving up to Auckland to make our social events constantly and editing my bad grammar,
Thank you for all your support
We were a team, I couldn't have done this without you,
This part of my life ends here now, I'm no longer Urbex NZ. I'll always be Tansix. I think my motto has always been bad ideas are the best memories, these are the best memories.
Thank you for inviting me:
Love,
Nathan
Urbex NZ 2006 - 2021
I've had such an amazing journey with Urban Exploration. I was 19 years old when my friend Sara suggested we go visit this abandoned hospital called Lake Alice. I was so enthralled, I went back the very next night. This sparked my interest, by 2008 (two years later) I had a website called lakealicehospital.com and I was asked by a Human Rights group to be involved in there fight for justice, this was a group that was fighting for fair compensation for past patients of whom had spent time in Lake Alice hospital as youths. All so very new to me, coming from a small country town, I would meet past patients and for a period become good friends with Kevin Banks, the stories and time I spent with Kevin made me more driven to support this cause, by 2010 I was New Zealand's youngest activist. While suffering with depression, I found assisting with this group as an outlet.
By 2009 with little online presence, no Instagram back in these days, nobody hardly knew what Urbex was (ahh the golden days) through a former forum called Slack Ninja I meet Bradd, during this time I had started my own website called Urban Explorers (now defunct) he and I together with a passion for a mutual hobby, formed Urbex NZ.
I've only but meet eccentric characters through this hobby, which has helped shape me. I'm the kind of person that when I do something, I'll do it good and I will go all out, Bradd always told me I tried to hard to impress people, I just enjoy the company of good people and thats what I found, we became a family, my rule was to have no rules and push the boundaries (well okay I had one rule, we don't speak to the media), I welcomed graffiti artists into the group and become a bit of a dad to the younger members, we would meet most weekends, spend birthdays and Christmas together. I even chucked a few massive illegal raves to which I became known for. But by 2012 we were in our prime, I had become the face of Urbex in New Zealand. The derelict St James theatre in Auckland was our hang out, and well everyone knew if you were invited to explore or drink with us at the St James, it was something special.
Urbex NZ is a massive part of New Zealands counter culture history, people only seem to see it for abandoned buildings but for us there was a rich culture behind what we were interested in and who we were.
I know at times it was challenging within the group to have a gay man as the leader, the dynamic often showed through the ranks and I was often questioned, I remember leaving a house party one night and thanking everyone for inviting me and saying goodbye, my friend turned around and said to me the next day "Can you not do that next time" I said "What, be polite" it wasn't seen as macho and manly, the strain on my relationship with boyfriend at the time Zak, made us often keep our relationship silent in social situations to not make people uncomfortable, this was extremely difficult, while everyone knew it existed it was almost like we weren't to talk about it, "Hi this is my friend Zak" I know it got to him, he always felt second best, nonetheless everyone treated him with respect, I never once heard a homophobic remark.
It was a different time and I'm a very direct person, so you either came along for the journey or got left behind. I encouraged open mindedness, I remember when my friend had just came out as transsexual, one of the places she was most accepted was within our group, because no one gave a fuck and thats the attitude I pushed, just be yourself.
When I see what I achieved and I look at other Urbex groups these days, I just realise I paved the way for a whole new generation, I'm really proud that I was a young gay guy from a lower class family in South Auckland who pushed all the boundaries and did things my way, it was never easy, but it was an incredible learning experience.
Why there is so many people I want to thank over the past 10 years, I wish to give special note to my best friend Kayla, thank you for coming to these abandoned places even though you hated it. My friend Robert who I meet through Urbex thank you for putting up with me even when I always thought I was right and for our many drunken journeys (Lion Brewery), Jasper De Seymour you are the only reason I appreciate my youtube videos thank you for believing in me- all the way to Melbourne, my friend James- thank you for letting me live on your sofa and making me awful pasta and creating the infamous Urbex logo, Zak Marlow I love you and I'm sorry we never got to say goodbye before you took your own life- I appreciated having you at my side through this journey, Addict, Turps and Eufat your influences upon the group made you important individuals I can't thank you all enough for bringing your quirky personalities and the graffiti culture to Urbex, my dear friend, Johan. I love you and thank you for not running away after our first "date" in the abandoned Adelaide hotel in Welly. I will never forget our many wild adventures, my cave clan friend and best mate Howza thanks for having my back when everyone else told you I was bad news. Gemma Duncan for showing me how unique and individual we all were, Nick for joining the group even though everyone said I was wreckless, my father who sadly has dementia now- thank you for breaking the rules with me and allowing me to create my own direction, my two brothers Jesse & Toby for coming along on my spontaneous adventurers and having a trespass notice to take to school as a show and tell at age 10, Special thanks to Tully, Maggie, Koi, Jennifer and Carrie for all being apart of Urbex NZ.
Thank you to everyone who followed us online, meet up and to all the international people I meet along the way, I have life long friends now, I'm sure I've missed a tone of people, thanks for coming on this journey with me.
Most of all, Bradd
I know we are no longer friends and have since parted.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me, driving up to Auckland to make our social events constantly and editing my bad grammar,
Thank you for all your support
We were a team, I couldn't have done this without you,
This part of my life ends here now, I'm no longer Urbex NZ. I'll always be Tansix. I think my motto has always been bad ideas are the best memories, these are the best memories.
Thank you for inviting me:
Love,
Nathan
Urbex NZ 2006 - 2021
About urbex New Zealand
Urbex New Zealand is a group of friends who all meet together through Urbex communities and formed this website. With a unique perspective with what is seen through our eyes when it comes to visiting old abandoned and derelict places. We are also there to catch local history and historic places while they still stand.
Urbex is short for URBan EXploration which is the definition of pretty much what we're all about. It's all about exploring and enjoying these disused, unseen places whether it be a hospital, tunnel or old house. We wont let them be forgotten as we see the beauty in the decaying, rotten structures. Its all a part of the life cycle of Birth, Life and Death. All physical things undergo this cycle, inanimate objects are not immune.
The purpose of the website is to showcase some of our favourite locations, and perhaps even take the viewer on an imagined journey with sideways in time to show a part of daily life lots of people dont get to see and perhaps even inspire you to try out urban exploring yourself. Almost everyone has some experience at least from their childhood with the "Haunted house up the road" sort of thing. Some of us continue with those experiences, our curiosity always gets the best of us and sometimes gets us into some tight spots.
Most people have at least a vague interest at any age, especially if theres a couple of great photos to accompany a good story.
Over the last several years we have been to so many different places, this is a hobby we have been known to do more than a few times a week. It all depends on what else is happening in our lives, or if theres any new locations to get to, or if we feel like revisiting the old ones to see whats changed. There is a lot that we don't write about, and a lot of photos we don't put up. Bradd has more than 5000 photos spread over more than 100 locations. We are always meeting people that have been in contact through the website or social media and gone to various locations with them, but most only come out once or twice before disappearing again. If you want to get in touch, or meet and go to a location in real life, try emailing us, we meet a lot of people as long as they make at least a little effort. We are also interested in any news or new locations obviously, and will be keen to go along with you. Otherwise, enjoy!
- Nathan
"Why would you want to poke around in an old abandoned building?" is something we get asked ALL the time. Below is a response Nathan had on one of his previous websites.
"I've always been fascinated by old houses, hospitals and pretty much anything that is either defunct or screams out with history that will benefit myself or others. When you visit these types of places you get a real feeling of what the hospital or house was like when it was in operation, it's a bit like a blank piece of canvas when you stroll along, take a few photo's and let your imagination run wild. The most exciting part is discovering how things worked well before I existed. It's almost like jumping back in time when I visit places like The old Brickworks and houses built pre 1900's. There is so much to learn from these beautiful places - the world was a very different place during the depression and before computers, so it's a real escape and it sort of gives each location a new perspective for a new generation."
People often ask me the history of our group:
For Nathan it all started back in early 2006 when his friend suggested they go check out the then derelict Lake Alice hospital. From there he was hooked on exploring disused/abandoned places. He was so fascinated about Lake Alice that he started a website in March 2008 about the hospital (www.lakealicehospital.com) putting online any research and photos. At the same time there was a website called SlackNinja around, this was a NZ based Urban Exploration website, shut down around 2010 but by 2009 Nathan had started uploading his own photos and explorations on a now defunct website called Urban Explorers. From the Slack Ninja website Nathan and in 2011 together they formed Urbex.co.nz. .
Urbex is short for URBan EXploration which is the definition of pretty much what we're all about. It's all about exploring and enjoying these disused, unseen places whether it be a hospital, tunnel or old house. We wont let them be forgotten as we see the beauty in the decaying, rotten structures. Its all a part of the life cycle of Birth, Life and Death. All physical things undergo this cycle, inanimate objects are not immune.
The purpose of the website is to showcase some of our favourite locations, and perhaps even take the viewer on an imagined journey with sideways in time to show a part of daily life lots of people dont get to see and perhaps even inspire you to try out urban exploring yourself. Almost everyone has some experience at least from their childhood with the "Haunted house up the road" sort of thing. Some of us continue with those experiences, our curiosity always gets the best of us and sometimes gets us into some tight spots.
Most people have at least a vague interest at any age, especially if theres a couple of great photos to accompany a good story.
Over the last several years we have been to so many different places, this is a hobby we have been known to do more than a few times a week. It all depends on what else is happening in our lives, or if theres any new locations to get to, or if we feel like revisiting the old ones to see whats changed. There is a lot that we don't write about, and a lot of photos we don't put up. Bradd has more than 5000 photos spread over more than 100 locations. We are always meeting people that have been in contact through the website or social media and gone to various locations with them, but most only come out once or twice before disappearing again. If you want to get in touch, or meet and go to a location in real life, try emailing us, we meet a lot of people as long as they make at least a little effort. We are also interested in any news or new locations obviously, and will be keen to go along with you. Otherwise, enjoy!
- Nathan
"Why would you want to poke around in an old abandoned building?" is something we get asked ALL the time. Below is a response Nathan had on one of his previous websites.
"I've always been fascinated by old houses, hospitals and pretty much anything that is either defunct or screams out with history that will benefit myself or others. When you visit these types of places you get a real feeling of what the hospital or house was like when it was in operation, it's a bit like a blank piece of canvas when you stroll along, take a few photo's and let your imagination run wild. The most exciting part is discovering how things worked well before I existed. It's almost like jumping back in time when I visit places like The old Brickworks and houses built pre 1900's. There is so much to learn from these beautiful places - the world was a very different place during the depression and before computers, so it's a real escape and it sort of gives each location a new perspective for a new generation."
People often ask me the history of our group:
For Nathan it all started back in early 2006 when his friend suggested they go check out the then derelict Lake Alice hospital. From there he was hooked on exploring disused/abandoned places. He was so fascinated about Lake Alice that he started a website in March 2008 about the hospital (www.lakealicehospital.com) putting online any research and photos. At the same time there was a website called SlackNinja around, this was a NZ based Urban Exploration website, shut down around 2010 but by 2009 Nathan had started uploading his own photos and explorations on a now defunct website called Urban Explorers. From the Slack Ninja website Nathan and in 2011 together they formed Urbex.co.nz. .
If you're interested in Urban Exploration then join us on our Facebook, Tumblr or send us a submission via email and get interacting.
