A New Zealand court has jailed Kaixiao Liu, a musician accused of leading a religious sect, for more than 10 years after he was found guilty of manslaughter and kidnapping over the death of an elderly follower. Shulai Wang, 70, had travelled from China to live with Liu's household, and her death exposed a controlling, cult-like environment in which followers reportedly lived in servitude and addressed Liu as "Lord" or "Master". The case has drawn attention in New Zealand and China for the disturbing details of how Wang died and how her body was disposed of, and for raising questions about unregulated religious groups operating largely under the radar.

Wang moved to New Zealand from Hainan island in August 2023 and lived at a house Liu called "the Ark" alongside other female followers, spending her days on childcare, scripture study and gardening. The court heard she struggled to comply with the group's strict rules, was frequently disciplined, and died after being caught and restrained while trying to escape in March 2024; her body, wrapped in rice bags, was later found near Auckland's Gulf Harbour and traced back to Liu via unusual rice purchases. Liu's wife, Lanyue Xiao, received a near eight-year sentence for related charges, while his parents were separately convicted and await sentencing; Justice Mathew Downs told Liu he had shown "callous indifference" and caused Wang a "lonely, frightening death".