A report into children who lived at the Centrepoint commune says many have suffered long-term negative effects from their time there.
The commune operated on Auckland's North Shore from 1977 to 2000. Leader Bert Potter was eventually convicted for drug and child sex offences.
A team of psychologists from Massey University has studied 29 of the children who lived there.
Their report says many have suffered long-term effects of sexual abuse, parental neglect, drug abuse and the stigma of being part of the commune.
The report also says the children have since suffered anxiety and depression or struggled to find their way in life.
However, the psychologists say other former Centrepoint children surveyed said they had positive experiences there.