NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Questions & Answers
1

For the life of me I cannot understand why I get the error: NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
CreateRandomPoulpi.Start () (at Assets/Scripts/CreateRandomPoulpi.cs:21)

The line its complaining about is: octo.transform.parent = newParent.transform;

public class CreateRandomPoulpi : MonoBehaviour {
	
	public GameObject enemyPrefab;
	public float numEnemies;
	public float xMin = 19F;
	public float xMax = 85F;
	public float yMin = 3.5F;
	public float yMax = -4.5F;
	
	void Start () {
		
		GameObject newParent = GameObject.Find("1 – Background Elements");
		
		for (int i = 0; i < numEnemies; i++)
		{
			Vector3 newPos = new Vector3(Random.Range(xMin, xMax), Random.Range(yMin, yMax), 0);
			GameObject octo = Instantiate(enemyPrefab, newPos, Quaternion.identity) as GameObject;
			octo.transform.parent = newParent.transform;
		}
		
	}
}

Any help is much appreciated.

2

By the looks of it, unity cant find “1 – Background Elements” in the scene.
Do note that if the object is deactivated GameObject.Find will not find the object in the scene.