More than 300 budding investigators came together from all over New Zealand over the July
holidays for Forensics@Kristin; an intensive, student-led programme that challenges
participants to solve complex simulated homicide cases. Gifted students from primary,
intermediate and secondary schools across the country came to embrace the challenge and
test their problem solving, research, logic and creative skills at this unique and exciting camp.
Split into three different camp experiences, Forensics@Kristin includes a five-day experience
for students in years 5-10, a one-day Junior Edition for years 3-8, and a five-day Senior
Scholars’ Edition for selected students in years 11-13.
Joining together as teams of Detectives, the students had three days to work through their
cases. They utilised forensic techniques such as fingerprint testing and DNA analysis, and the
multitude of resources, skills and intelligence at their disposal to sort the evidence from the
red herrings and direct their own lines of inquiry. Their investigations culminated in a
simulated court trial where detectives became defence and prosecution lawyers,
interviewing key witnesses and arguing their side of the case.
The fifteen participants in the Senior Scholars’ camp acted as expert scientific witnesses in
the mock court trials. In an extraordinary simulation, the Senior Scholars’ investigation
included the discovery and subsequent examination of a burial site in relation to their
homicide scenario, and their evidence was critical for the prosecution of many of the
Over the course of the week, participants had the opportunity to meet with specialists from
the field who explained the real-life application of what they were learning and the realities
of forensic investigation. Detective Peter Litherland spoke to the students about the role of a
detective in the police force and what it takes to solve a crime. Forensic scientist Laura
Parsons from Environment Sciences and Research (ESR) took to the stage to explain her line
of work. She provided many tips for the camp’s Detectives to help them build a strong and
compelling prosecution case. Independent forensic scientist Dr Anna Sandiford gave the
participants an amazing insight into the world of forensic investigation for the defence,
breaking down the myths created by television shows and shining a light on the fascinating
and challenging aspects of her profession. Defence Lawyer Phillip Hamlin gave valuable
insights into the trial process.
The complex scenarios were designed by a team of students in the roles of Controllers and
Scenario Doctors. These students, mostly in years 9 and 10, had been selected from the very
best of previous years’ Detectives. They invested many weeks in preparing the scenarios and
related evidence and were kept busy throughout the week, generating information and
responding to the many lines of enquiry from the Detective teams.
An additional team of students was responsible for the logistics of running the camp. This
included catering for all of the participants and supervising teams, overseeing the science
laboratories and general day-to-day business of running the camp. While staff were on hand
to help and guide as necessary, it was the students who led the camp, addressed the
participants and took responsibility for its ultimate success.
Forensics Coordinator and GATE teacher Raewyn Casey says it is the student leadership that
makes the Kristin Forensics camp so unique. “This is the only programme on this scale in
New Zealand that is entirely student-led.”
“Although teachers are there to provide guidance, the complete control of the experience is
handed over to the students,” she says. “They learn skills of managing small and large
groups and have to communicate with a variety of companies and many different adults.
The skills they are learning, especially when there is a problem to solve, will remain with
them for life. I am always amazed at how capable the students are and the high level of
commitment we see from them.”
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