The Commune

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Recommendation: The Trial - The Retrial of David Benbow Nov 06, 2023

If you've loved The Commune, here's a recommendation for another Stuff podcast we think you'll love. It's called The Trial. It’s about a fascinating murder case which went to trial even though there was no weapon or body. After a hung jury, finding ourselves in the middle of our own legal challenge and then a retrial... The Trial podcast is finally back with a verdict. Check out The Trialand follow the show to get instant access to the whole series... But for now, here's a sample for you, as we return to court for The Retrial of David Benbow…

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BONUS: Newsable Interview with Adam Dudding and Eugene Bingham, creators of The Commune Jul 17, 2023

In this special bonus episode Imogen Wells and Emile Donovan take a peek behind the scenes of The Commune in their conversation with Adam Dudding and Eugene Bingham. This interview originally appeared on Newsable, Stuff's daily news podcast.

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12: The Wounded Healer Jun 05, 2022

Centrepoint is gone, but the trauma remains. Yet for some, those commune years were the best. Everyone grapples with their memories and sense of culpability. And we hear from someone prepared to tell an awful truth.

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11: Zombie Commune Jun 05, 2022

Barri deploys a secret weapon in her plot to close Centrepoint down for good: will this be the killer blow? Not if Bert’s loyal lieutenants have anything to do with it. The final battle is on.

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10: The Writing on the Wall Jun 05, 2022

Centrepoint’s guru is in prison, but the pressure on young people for sex hasn’t stopped. Only now, it’s not just the girls. Barri finally understands she’s been in a cult – but will she ever be free?

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09: That Feeling of Helplessness Jun 05, 2022

After a major police raid, the public finally learns the full horror of what’s been happening at Centrepoint. Barri reaches breaking point. (TW: This episode contains descriptions of sexual abuse.)

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08: Lying without Lying Jun 05, 2022

Ray is back on the Centrepoint case and he’s determined to arrest Bert. The community hatches a plan to cover up for their guru. Barri tries to make Bert see sense – but is it too late?

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07: Cherished Ideas Jun 05, 2022

Barri finds the answer she’s been seeking but what will she do? Nate tries to raise the alarm about a new arrival. And a humiliated Bert tries chemical assistance to regain the love of his followers.

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06: The Centrepoint Kids Jun 05, 2022

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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05: Invaders Jun 05, 2022

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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04: Under the Carpet Jun 05, 2022

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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03: The Girl on the Lawn Jun 05, 2022

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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02: Awkward Buggers Jun 05, 2022

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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01: Open Day Jun 05, 2022

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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Trailer: The Commune May 29, 2022

Coming soon from Stuff: 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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