In the quiet waters near Auckland, a fisherman's discovery in March 2024 brought to light what courts would later confirm: a religious community had become a cage. Kaixiao Liu, a self-styled spiritual guide who gathered followers through music and online devotion, presided over a household of servitude in which a 70-year-old woman named Shulai Wang lost her life attempting to reclaim her freedom. Sentenced in August 2026 to more than ten years in prison, Liu's story is a reminder of how the hunger for meaning can be exploited by those who mistake control for enlightenment.
New Zealand sect leader jailed over death of elderly Chinese follower
Shulai Wang, a 70-year-old Chinese follower, died after being restrained while attempting to escape the cult household, with her body subsequently disposed of by Liu and family members.