logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
40m 9s

Quiet Death Toll

RNZ
About this episode

Phil delves into the enigmatic world of Takaro Lodge, a wellness retreat in New Zealand that doubled as a high-end luxury resort. We uncover the mysterious practices of its founder, Chinese grandmaster Aiping Wang and meet Warwick, a Kiwi actor who’s hoping that Aiping’s energy treatment will cure his HIV. From Fiordland National Park to the guru’s energy clinics in Europe and the US, how far will people go and what will they believe in the pursuit of wellness?

For articles and images from the series, visit the RNZ website here: www.rnz.co.nz/thelodge

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Up next
Jun 2025
Dealing With Magic
Warwick's story unfolds, and we discover if his six-month energy treatment in London has produced a miracle cure for HIV. Phil learns more about the ambitious nature of the wellness cult and its plan to reform all of society. We hear of the tragic tales of two other believers, Sh ... Show More
39m 1s
Jul 2025
Being There
We hear from the guru herself, Aiping Wang in a rare interview recorded for a 20/20 television documentary, The Grandmaster. The guru explains “Qi”, what she calls “Universe Energy” and how it can bring happiness, wealth and health, including curing serious diseases. She explains ... Show More
41m 57s
Jul 2025
Quite Surreal
A bomb threat in 2005 shuts down central Tauranga, a city in the North Island of New Zealand, and Phil discovers that the bomber has a connection with the Lodge. After coming under public scrutiny Aiping, her family and followers go international, opening clinics in Europe and th ... Show More
45m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2018
Sharing the love - The Aloha Shirt
In this installment of My Heels Are Killing Me, Sonia Sly heads to Te Papa to find out about historical and contemporary views on the Aloha shirt.In this installment of My Heels Are Killing Me,Sonia Sly heads to Te Papa to find out about historical and contemporary views on the A ... Show More
20m 45s
May 2023
Cash-strapped hospices look at cutting services
It's an essential health service that relies on cake stalls and second-hand clothes sales just to keep the lights on. Now some of the country's biggest hospices are warning they will have to cut some services, if they don't get an urgent cash injection from the Government. Ruth H ... Show More
3m 31s
Mar 2025
Giving used clothes a new life
Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women from Brazil and the UK who have online businesses buying and selling second hand clothes.Ana Luiza McLaren is a co-founder of Enjoei, the biggest second hand selling site in Brazil. She started selling her own clothes through a blog she wr ... Show More
26m 28s
Jul 2025
The Cult of Love Island
"I GOT A TEXT!!!!" Get ready, culties, because a hot new bombshell has just entered the villa. Grab your neon string bikinis, your mic necklaces, and a whole lot of self tanner and join us at the fire pit because we are finally covering the cult of Love Island. From its devoted f ... Show More
1h 12m
Jan 2025
How to Make a $12.98 T-Shirt... in the U.S.
After decades of manufacturing in the United States moving overseas, there are calls to bring it back. But doing that is not straightforward. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner and the founder of American Giant explain how that company produced inexpensive T-shirts in the U.S. Further Readi ... Show More
18m 52s
Aug 2024
Another Take: After the Maui fires, has more Hawaiian heritage been lost?
On Friday, Hawaii's largest utility company agreed to pay the largest share of a settlement worth more than $4 billion to plaintiffs affected by last year's deadly wildfires in Maui. Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 17, 2023. N ... Show More
21m 47s
Dec 2024
Essential Swimwear For Every Body
The Best Australian Swimwear Swimwear is more than just a summer staple—it’s a feat of engineering, designed to help women feel confident and comfortable, whether they’re lounging poolside or riding the waves. Yet, choosing swimwear can also feel deeply personal. How you want to ... Show More
23m 39s
Jun 2025
THE ROYAL WEDDING IS HERE!
<p>They did it!! Remi and Cal officially tied the knot this past weekend, and we’re giving you the pre-wedding details — and yes, Cal is here to help us spill all the secrets we’ve been keeping!</p><p>We’re talking venue, and how they picked the location, Remi’s dress, Cal’s cust ... Show More
1h 51m
Jun 2022
Hawaii (S5.09)
Full shownotes at www.80dayspodcast.com/hawaii &#124; Support: www.patreon.com/80dayspodcast In this episode of 80 Days: An Exploration Podcast, Hawaii, and specifically the Big Island of Hawaii. Which is also called Hawaii. Hawaii is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islan ... Show More
1h 58m
Sep 2024
Extra Stupid: $40 party pants
<p>We were talking about clothes a few weeks ago and lots of you had stories about second hand clothing. Jules and Jez read through some of the emails and wonder if we can do more to encourage the reuse of clothing and reduce fast fashion.</p> 
12 m