It's been seven years since the disappearance of an 11-year-old boy and his stepfather in the far South, and now a Coroner's hearing has begun in Christchurch to determine whether the pair are dead or not.
The final known moments of Mike Zhao-Beckenridge, 11, and his 64-year-old stepfather John Beckenridge have been laid out at the hearing which began on Monday.
Zhao-Beckenridge and his stepfather Beckenridge went missing in March 2015.
The purpose of the hearing is for Coroner Marcus Elliot to rule whether they are dead or alive. Mike's mother believes her son is still alive, and his disappearance was staged by her ex-husband.
Breckenridge breached a parenting order on March 13, 2015, when he went to his stepson's school and picked him up before heading to the Catlins, an exposed area at the bottom of the South Island, where they camped at various locations.
Beckenridge's car was found at the bottom of sheer cliffs near Curio Bay in the Catlins along with other things belonging to the duo including a tent, sleeping bags and empty fuel containers at a campsite.
But the pair has never been heard from and their bodies have never been found.
A border area notice was issued, preventing Breckenridge from taking his stepson out of the country.
A search warrant was executed at Breckenridge's home, where the drapes were pulled. There was no sign of recent activity, but police seized 79 exhibits, including documents and every device capable of storing data.
On Monday it was revealed after picking up his stepson, Beckenridge sent several text messages to friends, apologising for the "outcome of this ordeal" and that he was now being "chased by the Gestapo".
The court also heard that 11-year-old Zhao-Beckenridge sent his mother a text message saying she had lied and, "You do not deserve to be my mum".
The final text message was to Mike's mother by Beckenridge, it said, "Me and Mike are leaving now on the midnight express".
There have been several sightings of the duo since March 2015, the Coroner will hear from people who claim they've seen the pair, some of those sightings were overseas.
Police have found no evidence to date of a planned escape and have found no evidence that the pair have left the Catlins.
