Gloriavale leader says former members ‘exaggerated’ their experiences: Stuff

By Shannon Redstall | Stuff |

A lawyer for Gloriavale has suggested the women who are arguing they should have been recognised as employees of the secretive Christian community “exaggerated” their experiences.

The long-running case centres around whether six former Gloriavale members should be considered employees for the “slave-like” conditions they said they worked in.

In his summing up, barrister Carter Pearce picked through their evidenc, suggesting comments made about working hours were “exaggerated for effect” and that some of the women gave no evidence to suggest they believed their work was part of an employment situation at the time.

Gloriavale Shepherd Samuel Valor addressed the court as part of the defendants’ closing, saying an employer/employee relationship doesn’t align with their religious beliefs.

Further reading: Gloriavale leader says former members ‘exaggerated’ their experiences