‘They lived in fear’: Lawyer on court ruling that Gloriavale women were employees: RNZ

Lisa Owen |RNZ Checkpoint|

“Relieved and vindicated” That’s the response of six former Gloriavale women found by the court to be employees.

Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor and Virginia Courage took leaders of the christian community to the Employment court arguing they lived in servitude and were not volunteers.

The women, who were born into the West Coast commune started working at around six years old and as teenagers were groomed to leave school and do “urelenting, grinding” and “hard” work; something the court ruling says has “left deep scars”.

Community leaders maintained they were volunteers doing domestic duties in the service of god and community.

Barrister Brian Henry led the legal team in the case against Gloriavale and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Click on link to hear the interview: Lawyer on court ruling that Gloriavale women were employees