When people think of “Sean Brandon from Roof Design and Management”, they usually picture him on a roof, piloting a drone, or carefully inspecting flashings, roof sheets, and cladding.

And they would be absolutely right. But roofing isn’t the only type of investigation Sean enjoys.

When he’s not helping homeowners and property managers understand the condition of their roofs, there’s a good chance you’ll find him exploring some of Aotearoa’s more unusual locations as a member of Paranormal New Zealand – pictured here at the Lake House in Takapuna. Founded by Mark Wallbank (second from the left in the photo) in the 1980s, it is the country’s longest-running paranormal field research organisation – and Sean is proud to be a part of it.

From historic buildings, abandoned sites and other places with unexplained stories or happenings, the team investigates reports of unusual activity using a combination of research, observation, and specialist equipment. “We go in without preconceived ideas or assumptions. Our job is to ask questions and look for logical factors that could be causing the anomalies.”

ShoreLines featured Paranormal New Zealand in its October/November 2025 issue. The article begins on page 4 and describes a couple of interesting cases on the North Shore.

“To use the terms favoured by Uncanny, one of my favourite TV shows and podcasts, I guess I’m more Team Believer than Team Sceptic. Although I’m aware of incidents that potentially support the existence of ghosts, I’ve yet to personally experience anything to totally convince me.”

At first glance, roof inspections and paranormal investigations might seem worlds apart, but Sean sees some surprising similarities between the two.

Whether he’s investigating a persistent roof leak or an unexplained noise in an old building, he’s gathering evidence, asking questions and keeping an open mind. “You’ve got to be curious, pay attention to detail, and take a methodical approach.”

As anyone who has worked with Sean would agree, he’s not interested in guesswork. He wants facts, observations, and practical answers.

Do you hear bumps in the attic or footsteps on the path?

“If you’ve engaged RDM to inspect your roof, don’t be shy about telling me about other stuff while I’m on site!” says Sean.

“Your roof report is the priority, of course, but maybe your property will pique the interest of the Paranormal New Zealand team and warrant more than one kind of inspection.”

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