Warning: This article discusses suicide.
The fractured relationship between 11-year-old Mike Zhao-Beckenridge and his mother has been laid bare during a coronial hearing.
Mike Zhao-Beckenridge and his 64-year-old stepfather John Beckenridge haven't been heard from for eight years.
In the weeks leading up to Mike's disappearance, he sent his stepfather a series of emails desperate to be reunited.
"How my life is shit... I hate my mom in fact she is not even my mom she f**ked my life up so bad i hate her I have no love for, I hope she die [sic] painfully," one email said.
"I have so much to ask u dad but Mum never will let me talk to u I want to kill myself from Mike much love to u [sic]," said another.
"... I miss us so much and I love u please come here and we start kill? I realise u will not read this until night time that is when u check it all the time but I love u and I miss [sic] love from Mike," a third email said.
The emails were sent in the early hours of the morning following a recent family court decision that awarded custody to Mike's mother.
Concerned his stepson would self-harm, John asked the police to check on him.
Const Dave McLardy had met the family recently when he answered a 111 call from Mike, alleging his mother had assaulted him.
McLardy said, however, Mike admitted the allegation was false and told police he called them because he wanted to live with his stepfather instead of his mother.
Mike told police he'd continue to misbehave until he was returned to his stepfather, McLardy said.
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.
On March 13, 2015, Beckenridge breached a parenting order 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 nor their bodies found.
The coroner's hearing continues.
