Gloriavale’s appeal against women’s Employment Court case will be heard
A group of former Gloriavale women have lost a Supreme Court bid to appeal their former leaders’ fight against a ruling that they were employees when they worked in the community.
The Appeal Court granted the leaders leave to appeal the Employment Court case on two “narrow questions of law” about whether the women worked for reward and, if not, whether they volunteers who did not expect to be rewarded.
The women told the Supreme Court they did expect rewards, including “necessities of life”, a “promise of spiritual redemption” and permission to stay in the isolated West Coast community.
They argued the Appeal Court exceeded its statutory jurisdiction by granting leave to appeal based on questions that weren’t raised by the leaders and were more relevant to potential future proceedings involving other groups.
The Supreme Court said the Appeal Court had a broad jurisdiction to grant leave “for any reason” and ordered the women to pay the leaders costs of $2500.