Gloriavale still working with Govt
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‘All members have bank accounts’
Gloriavale says it is still working with numerous agencies, and its priority is ensuring its children are well cared for.
The community has been back in the spotlight this week, thanks to a new documentary on Tv One.
It was also revealed last week that a Gloriavale-West Coast Stakeholder Group, which included police, Work Safe NZ and Oranga Tamariki, had been disbanded.
However, Gloriavale said today it was working to maintain the five outcomes set by the group.
Leaders said they had no problems with the five outcomes put forward by the government and would continue to comply with them. A spokesman for the community said they would continue to work closely with all appropriate agencies, particularly Police, Work Safe and Oranga Tamariki.
The five outcomes were designed to ensure that members of the Gloriavale Christian Community were safe and received minimum legal entitlements.
A leader had been assigned to each of the five outcomes to see that community members were aware of their rights under the law, and that the community was complying with all regulations.
Under the previous government mandate, each of these men gave a report to the Ministry of Social Development every six weeks on progress to meet the outcomes.
“We are keen to see that the five outcomes are maintained. It would be foolish to neglect something that is a benefit to community members.”
Changes had been made in the community in recent years: “The Child Protection Policy is in full force, with regular meetings between community child protection leads and a representative of Oranga Tamariki”.
“All members of Christian Partners — about 150 men and women — have their own bank accounts and are in control of their contributions to the partnership.
“Our community is subject to all of the same challenges found in New Zealand society at this time — the high cost of living, labour shortages, and the maintenance of infrastructure. However, we are confident that we can solve these problems and comply with the requirements of the law.
“Our main priority is ensuring that our children are safe and well cared for.”
The Gloriavale Christian School was working with the Department of Education to ensure its children were well educated.
“We even had the police here for three days this week teaching the children about Road Safety and Safe Cycling.
“We are also engaged in ongoing negotiations with the Ministry of Social Development to ensure that the needs of people who choose to leave the community are met.”