Gloriavale freedoms outlined

| Greymouth Star | Laura Mills and RNZ |

A Gloriavale woman says their isolated community has changed so much that members can now access the internet, many have cellphones and they can get a ride into Greymouth most days.

Treasure Stedfast appeared before the Employment Court hearing in Greymouth this morning, opening with a mihi, which she said was “not a pretence”.

The qualified teacher, speaking strongly and clearly, used a lot of her brief to explain what had changed at the Gloriavale Christian Community at Lake Haupiri.

Mrs Stedfast is a Gloriavale trust partner which means she gets paid, and she chooses to put the money back into the communal fund.

She said she had full access to her bank account and giving her money to the community was “my choice”.

When studying for her bachelors degree, she did work remotely, but she also spent time in Tauranga at Bethlehem College.

Mrs Stedfast also talked to the hearing about sexual abuse at Gloriavale and said when it became known, it was “terrible for everyone in the community”.

The community had worked hard to ensure it did not happen again and she felt Gloriavale was safe for her children.

Everyone had been educated on abuse, and as a teacher she had received extra training. Oranga Tamariki staff were regularly at Gloriavale, and screened girls.

She also responded to allegations that Gloriavale residents were ignorant of the outside world.

“I read the news every day,” she said.

She also had access to the internet and could look at whatever she wanted.

“This is not uncommon. My husband has a cellphone. Many have internet access. A lot of people have their own cellphones.

“We regularly go into town — a van goes in most days.”

While living outside Gloriavale would be a “culture shock”, that did not mean it was not an option. She cited examples of people who had left Gloriavale and had revisited to bring their children back to see relatives.

“(Overseeing shepherd) Howard (Temple) has said people can leave and they will help. Leadership is putting money aside to help people who want to leave.”

Mrs Stedfast became tearful when talking about allegations made by leavers.

“I’m sorry these ladies felt that way,” she said.

It was a much better place now and she personally knew she would be listened to.

She responded to claims that the women working in the early childhood centre, with their own children, effectively had two full-time jobs.

“It can be very hard at times,” she said.

However, her meals were cooked and the laundry collected from her door, and she only cleaned the hostel a few times a week.

Anyone who was struggling could ask for help, she said.

She likened Gloriavale to a marae, where she once stayed. The “head men made all the decisions”.

Yesterday, Gloriavale mother Lydia Christian told the court she recently read that more than a quarter of the girls at Christchurch High School had been raped or assaulted, and more than one in four university students had been sexually assaulted.

Mrs Christian said she felt emotionally harassed and socially abused when she read headlines about her home, with some describing it as a “sex cult”.

“Sin and lust are everywhere so yes, in our ignorance and desire to be merciful, loving and forgiving, there have been perverts among us. But I have never heard sexual immorality encouraged, condoned or taught,” Mrs Christian said.

“I feel safe in our community.” She said the leaders were committed to eradicating sexual abuse at Gloriavale.

She grew up knowing she would be picked for her husband by God, even though watching people falling in love in movies like Titanic did seem more attractive.

“The love story is totally capturing, but then I would look at my mum and dad and their marriage and the home they had created for us children and I realised that they had the secret to true love — unlike Kate Winslet, who had been married three times already.”

Mrs Christian, who has four children, said she had a loving, consenting relationship with her husband and was not a sex slave.

The leaders had no say in what happened between her and her husband.

After her first baby, meals were brought to her room for several weeks. After two weeks of complete time off, she moved to the sewing room with a relaxed schedule, so she could spend time with her baby.

Former members have previously testified to the court about sexual harassment and abuse at Gloriavale, where they said women and girls were always blamed for sexual misconduct.