Escape from Gloriavale: Former resident’s fight to free wife and baby

| NZ Herald | Anke Richter |
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John Ready left Gloriavale after his eldest daughter was kicked out and he was caught with Christian reading material.

Since 2017, the West Coast farmer has been fighting to convince his wife to leave with his other children — but she believes the outside world is evil and there is no salvation for her and her children if she leaves.

At 38, as well as fighting for his family, he had to learn simple tasks like supermarket shopping, cooking and cleaning. He got to celebrate Christmas for the first time in his life.

He now has even more motivation to get them out. A new baby. Andrew was conceived during a fleeting visit with his wife before she returned to the isolated community.

Anke Richter meets a torn man.

Continue reading: Former resident’s fight