On 12 October 2007, 22-year-old Janet Moses died and a 14-year-old female relative was injured during a mākutu lifting (or exorcism) in the Wellington, New Zealand suburb of Wainuiomata.
In the period prior to the mākutu lifting, Janet Moses had suffered the loss of her grandmother and relationship problems with her partner and father of her two children; the trial would later hear expert testimony that she likely had an "underlying psychiatric or psychological disorder.
[6] After Rahi left, a prolonged mākutu lifting was performed by her predominantly maternal family at the Wainuiomata flat of Moses' late grandmother.
The woman's eyes were injured as people picked at the demons they saw in them, and neighbours heard rhythmic stomping and thumping throughout the night.
Her father, who had travelled from Christchurch through the night to support his daughter, was not informed until his arrival at 4:30 p.m.[7] Nine hours after the death the police were called.
The eventual coroner's inquest strongly recommended that the family consult tohunga (experts) or experienced kaumatua (elders) before taking action on suspected mākutu.