9 episodes
The Lake Stuff
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- True Crime
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4.9 • 155 Ratings
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For more than five years, New Zealand investigative journalist Aaron Smale has been digging into the injustices - and crimes - of the state welfare system of Aotearoa New Zealand. Of all the unbelievable stories he has investigated, none is more shocking than what happened to children and adolescents at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital in the 1970s under the supervision of head psychiatrist Selwyn Leeks. This podcast contains descriptions of physical, sexual and psychological abuse perpetrated against children, as well as swearing, and frank discussions about mental health and suicide. Take care when and where you listen.
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Two Little Boys | 1
As Rangi Wickliffe and Tyrone Marks go through the hell of New Zealand’s state welfare system, the boys form a powerful bond of friendship. Their journey is one of neglect and mistreatment, but also adventure and skulduggery, on the road to the notorious Lake Alice Psychiatric Facility.
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The National Grid | 2
Rangi and Tyrone are in an institution unlike any they’ve been in before. There’s no other children, for a start, only mentally unwell and dangerous adult patients. But in 1972 they are joined by other kids, when the Lake Alice Child & Adolescent Unit officially opens its doors. Leoni McInroe is 14 when she arrives at Lake Alice, becoming one of the many kids and teenagers subject to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and chemical containment, under the direction of psychiatrist Dr Selwyn Leeks. But is it actually ECT, or is it just a form of torture?
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The Case of the Niuean Boy | 3
A 13 Year old Niuean boy named Hake Halo smuggles a secret message to his family, written in the speech bubble of a smiling cartoon figure. It says: “fakesoka he fowa au tagi au” or, “I have been given electric shock by the people, Mum. The pain is very bad.” After he’s released, Hake finds an unlikely ally in a pākeha bug-scientist-turned-anti-racism campaigner, who takes Hake’s story to the press. But will it be enough to make the public pay attention?
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Days of their Lives | 4
While the NZ public has some idea of what happened to the kids of Lake Alice, the true horror of it lies in unfiltered accounts of the day-to-day. For these children, things like eating dinner, going to bed or watching a movie all came with the possibility of assault, or even torture.
In this episode, survivors take us inside the Lake Alice child and adolescent unit, to show us how it feels when ‘horrifying’ is your normal.
Note, this episode contains explicit accounts of physical, sexual and psychological harm perpetrated against children. It is designed to be self-contained, so if you skip ahead to episode 5 all will still make sense.
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Outrageous In The Extreme | 5
Kids could only stay at the Lake Alice Child & Adolescent for so long, and at 16 they were packed up and sent on. We follow the Lake Alice kids as they try to get on with their lives through the 80s and 90s, and meet Kevin Banks, who’s been fighting for justice for more than 40 years.
Plus, Leoni decides to take on the Crown.
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One Flew Over the Lake | 6
There are so many outrageous stories about Lake Alice it can be hard to sort truth from conspiracy. Often something that starts out feeling far-fetched turns out to be true. In this episode: Scientologists, deep sleep experiments & the CIA, and how NZ was found guilty of torture by the United Nations.
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Customer Reviews
Leave our vulnerable alone
I work with some of them in Mason Clinic, victims of Lake Alice that is. Why is NZ used as guinea pigs for these unhinged doctors? The Cartwright enquiry comes to mind as well and the mandates we are subjected to, just as bad. Thanks for your work
Heartbreaking
Oh my goodness I’m so upset hearing this. I’m so sorry for what you all went through.. Thank you for sharing your stories.
Crown - Jacinda shld give a public apology
I’m disgusted by our governments actions, the current msd system resubjecting victims to state abuse by being the holder of its own systems power and justice. Jacinda ardern, the police, the medical council of nz & someone from Dr Leeks family should all apologise publically in writing and verbally to the victims in person at a hui! That’s the least they shld do. If Dr Leeks escaped responsibility then someone from his family shld apologise on his behalf. Any staff that worked at institutions where kids were abused shld be under police investigation & brought to court & trialled for what they did and what they ignored. If they didn’t speak out then they were compliant. The people Helen Clark paid off with insultingly small amounts of money shld remedy those shameful settlements and pay victims sufficiently for them to house & provide for themselves for the rest of their lives & afford professional therapy. How can u expect someone to live a ‘normal’ life after what the state allowed to happen? One can only come to the conclusion that many in positions of power and trusted to keep the public safe - Allowed this to happen, either by laziness, neglect, Racism or wilful ignorance - and that’s at best. As it seems those kids were put in those nightmare places to be fodder & entertainment for mentally ill adult patients & staff with some seriously sick behaviours. Thank you Aaron for your reporting & to the survivors for their bravery. Rangi I am so sorry for what happened to little you, I love the teacher who helped the kids how she could & someone give Tyrone a good job worthy of his mana! As he wld be an asset to any councilling service or any job requiring someone with integrity, mana & resilience.