15 episodes
The Commune Stuff
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- True Crime
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4.7 • 118 Ratings
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A 12-part documentary podcast about the notorious free-love commune, Centrepoint. There are crimes. But this isn’t a whodunnit. It’s a whydunnit.
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01: Open Day
A free-love commune called Centrepoint springs up in the suburbs of 1970s New Zealand, devoted in equal measure to sex, group therapy, and its guru Bert Potter. What could possibly go wrong?
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02: Awkward Buggers
Locals are fascinated by the sights and sounds of the sex commune next door. Founding members recall the optimism and excitement of Centrepoint’s early years – and the bizarre circumstances that led to the community’s first death.
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03: The Girl on the Lawn
Who the hell was Bert? How Centrepoint’s leader went from buttoned-up businessman to morally transgressive guru. Meanwhile Barri and “Robert” are each witness to moments that reveal the darkness lurking inside the Centrepoint dream.
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04: Under the Carpet
Barri and “Robert” are haunted by the ugly truth about their commune, but they respond differently. Plus: a quick history of communes in Aotearoa, and the complex social forces that made Centrepoint possible.
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05: Invaders
The ever-expanding Centrepoint commune goes to war: with its fed-up neighbours, with the local council and, thanks to Robert’s decision to speak out, the New Zealand Police.
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06: The Centrepoint Kids
It’s the 1980s, and Centrepoint’s on a roll. Bert is investing in the booming stock market; and the head-count keeps rising. But some of the new arrivals at the commune have wild stories to tell.
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Customer Reviews
Kiwi Dark Side
Gives a sense of New Zealand fifty years ago along with a gripping dark story of yet another narcissistic cult leader leading the well-intentioned down the garden path. As an American with a lot of NZ communal living in my past, it’s also like a travelogue. It would be more fun if it wasn’t so disturbing. (Warning: abuse is detailed throughout). Hard going but excellent. This story needs to be told.
The Commune
I enjoyed this so much! Great job! I am from the US and had never heard of this commune. When I finished it, I felt like an expert. Thanks for the great work!!
Interesting show but WAY too many ads
I really wanted to love this podcast. Fascinating cult, engaging reporter, immersive audio…
But to have ads literally every few minutes felt jarring and sleazy and I couldn’t even get through the first episode. Bummer.