Latest News
Should BNZ be forced to bank Gloriavale?
: By Jenée Tibshraeny | NZ Herald | A High Court judge is preventing the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) from ditching Gloriavale as a customer – for now at least. The bank wants to terminate the relationship it’s had with the controversial West Coast-based Christian community for more than 40 years…
Former Gloriavale members discovering joy of Christmas
: By Ryan Boswell | 1 News| Former members of the reclusive Gloriavale community are enjoying the chance to discover the joy of Christmas. The festive season isn’t observed at the West Coast commune as it’s considered a pagan holiday. “Traditionally, some of the more closed communities have had a view…
Gloriavale sack lawyers as cost becomes unsustainable
: By Joanne Naish | Stuff | The Gloriavale Christian Community has decided to represent itself in the ongoing Employment Court case it is defending against former members. The community said it could no longer sustain the cost of a legal team – believed to be in excess of $100,000 a…
Gloriavale workers get first monthly pay, and are asked to give the money back to cover expenses, including $100,000-plus legal bills
: Gloriavale workers who recently received a share of the Christian Community’s profits, were immediately asked to pay it back to cover expenses, including more than $100,000 in legal fees. The $335,000 in expenses for October included administration costs, taxes, vehicle hire, capital spending, with close to 40% going on lawyers…
RNZ – Govt agencies failed to protect community from convicted Gloriavale child abuser – former member
: By Andrew McRae – RNZ – 21/10/2022 A former member of the Gloriavale Christian Community says she is not holding her breath for any meaningful change to take place there. Rosanna Overcomer, who has been out of the community for nine years, gave a statement to the Abuse in Care…
From Centrepoint to Gloriavale, why are we still naive about sexually dangerous cults?
: By Dr Caroline Ansley | The Spinoff | This month’s Gloriavale hearing has been chillingly evocative of the abuse Dr Caroline Ansley endured as a child at Centrepoint in the 1980s. She asks, why do we still allow these predatory environments to thrive? And where is the ongoing support for…
Let’s Talk About Sects – Interview Episode: Gloriavale with Noel Smyth & Fergus Grady
: By Sarah Steele – Let’s Talk About Sects – 19/10/2022 When widespread abuse is uncovered at a New Zealand cult, a family must turn to the legal system in an effort to save themselves and their community from the all-powerful leaders. Filmmakers Noel Smyth and Fergus Grady documented the impact…
RN Drive – The secrets inside Gloriavale
: RN Drive, ABC, Sky Kirkham, Producer – 17/10/2022 Founded in New Zealand at the end of the 1960s by an Australian preacher, the Gloriavale Christian Community is home to around 600 people. Led by a small group of ‘shepherds’, members are isolated from outside society and ex-communication means exile from…
Gloriavale laid bare before Inquiry
: By Laura Mills | Greymouth Star | Gloriavale says it is getting some clothing made in China to free up women from sewing chores at the Lake Haupiri Christian community. Parents are also supervising children more as the community brings about a culture change in response to child abuse. Overseeing…
Rural News – Gloriavale wins reprieve
: Rural News – 11/10/2022 West Coast milk processor Westland Milk Products has been ordered by the High Court to continue picking milk from three dairy farms associated with the Gloriavale community. The company’s argument that Gloriavale-owned Canaan Farms employed children to do farm work and processing their milk affected relationships…
Stuff – Gloriavale appoints new acting school principal in wake of suspension of former head teacher for misconduct
: By Olivia Caldwell – Stuff – 15/09/2022 Gloriavale has appointed a new acting school principal after the previous head teacher was suspended earlier this year for serious misconduct. Rachel Stedfast said Gloriavale had been “targeted” by outsiders of its community, which had threatened the security of the children at the…RNZ – Gloriavale Christian School principal hits out at critics
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 15/09/2022 Gloriavale Christian School’s new principal has accused people of making a coordinated effort to shut the school down and take its children away by lodging simultaneous complaints against every teacher. In an open letter published on the West Coast Christian community’s website, Rachel…
Stuff – Gloriavale businesses stung by loss of Mānuka honey licence over use of child labour and worker exploitation
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 11/09/2022 Two Gloriavale Christian Community businesses have been banned from using a Mānuka honey trademark over treatment of their workers. The Unique Mānuka Factor Honey (UMF) Association has revoked a licence jointly held by Forest Gold and Lamohka honey brands, saying their actions had…RNZ – Gloriavale leaders lied about aunt’s death – former member
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 10/09/2022 This story discusses graphic details of abuse. Gloriavale leaders claimed God must have blessed the food that killed Prayer Ready in an isolation room at the Christian commune and lied about the circumstances surrounding her choking death, a former member says. Anna Courage…
Stuff – Gloriavale newlyweds sent to consummate arranged marriage as everyone waits ‘so they can have lunch’
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 10/09/2022 Touching your fiancé is forbidden at the Gloriavale Christian Community, but you are expected to consummate the arranged marriage before lunch. Melody Pilgrim remembers sitting in a room waiting to find out who the Overseeing Shepherd had chosen for her. “I was sitting…
1News – Brutal work conditions inside Gloriavale laid bare in court
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 08/09/2022 Brutal work conditions inside Gloriavale have been the focus of evidence at the Employment Court in Christchurch. Rebekah Kempf was born at the commune and left with her family in 2015. She is the great granddaughter of Gloriavale’s founder, Hopeful Christian, and told…
Newshub – Former Gloriavale members say they were called ‘too fat’, ‘talentless’ by leaders
: By Kaysha Brownlie – Newshub – 07/09/2022 “No talent” and “too fat” to be a Christian – this is what a former Gloriavale member says leaders told her. Rebekah Kempf was giving evidence at the Employment Court case in Christchurch, where current members deny the work is not forced. “I…RNZ – Sexual harassment of Gloriavale workers a ‘normal’ occurrence, court hears
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 07/09/2022 Workplace sexual harassment was normal at Gloriavale, where leaders would grab girls’ bottoms, unzip their dresses or ping their bra straps in the kitchen, a former member says. Rosanna Overcomer told an Employment Court hearing the behaviour made her feel sick but was…
NZ Herald – Longtime Gloriavale member turns on sect – reveals ‘very disturbing’ treatment of women, ‘prevalent’ sex offending
: By Anna Leask – NZ Herald – 06/09/2022 A Gloriavale father of 13 once convicted of beating two of his young daughters with shoes, carpentry tools, coat hangers and belts has turned on the community’s leaders, telling the court that sexual abuse, bullying and forced labour are prevalent within the…
Stuff – Gloriavale leaders ‘tear apart’ families of those who disagree with their rules, founding member says
: By Jake Kenny – Stuff – 06/09/2022 Warning: This story discusses details of alleged sexual abuse. A Gloriavale member “since its inception” says the community’s leaders do everything in their power to “tear apart” families of members who disagree with them. After decades of service to the community, Sharon Ready…
RNZ – Court hears of sexual culture at Gloriavale where women, girls blamed and punished
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 06/09/2022 Gloriavale founder Hopeful Christian told a father who had just buried his daughter that he could take comfort from the fact she would not be molested, a court has heard. Clem Ready said he was shaken by Christian’s attitude to the death of…
1News – Gloriavale man says discipline with weapons common practice
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 06/09/2022 A Gloriavale man who disciplined his daughters using a weapon argues it is common practice in the West Coast commune. Clem Ready is giving evidence at the Employment Court to decide whether six former Gloriavale members were employees or volunteers. He said men…
Newshub – Gloriavale member temporarily left community after leadership’s comment on his dead daughter ‘shook’ him
: By Kaysha Brownlie – Newshub – 06/09/2022 A former Glorivale member who still resides in the isolated West Coast community has given emotional evidence about how, among the things he witnessed in the Christian commune, his daughter’s death hurt him the most. Clem Ready was giving evidence during an Employment…RNZ – Former Gloriavale woman describes culture of bullying, mockery
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 05/09/2022 A former Gloriavale member has described an ingrained culture of bullying and mocking at the West Coast Christian community, where powerful and controlling leaders punished women. Mother-of-11 Virginia Courage told the Employment Court Gloriavale’s founder Hopeful Christian was a bully who ridiculed the…
Stuff – ‘Absolutely abusive’: Gloriavale leaders allegedly verbally attacked ex-member during meeting
: By Jake Kenny – Stuff – 05/09/2022 Warning: This story discusses details of alleged sexual abuse. A former Gloriavale resident says she was verbally attacked by the community’s leaders in a late-night meeting for over an hour for accepting a phone call from her brother. Virginia Courage was seven months…
1News – Gloriavale residents told ‘they owe their life’ to commune
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 05/09/2022 Gloriavale members grow up being told they owe their life to the West Coast commune, the Employment Court has been told. Virginia Courage is one of six former female members arguing that they should’ve been treated as employees, rather than volunteers at Gloriavale.…
NZ Herald – Editorial: Gloriavale dissent and defence echoes of The Handmaid’s Tale
: NZ Herald – 4/09/2022 For viewers of the screen adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale, the comparisons are inevitable. To start with, women of Gloriavale wear headscarves and apparel resembling the characters of the fictional Netflix series in all-but colour – the television cast in gaudy red and…RNZ – Former Gloriavale woman: ‘Were they trying to work us to death?’
: RNZ – 2/09/2022 A former Gloriavale woman has told a court the Christian community is not a safe place for children. Virginia Courage broke down describing how her teenage daughter was sent out of the country by Gloriavale’s leaders against her will. Courage was born into Gloriavale but left with…
1News – Gloriavale parents forced to work over caring for sick kids, court hears
: 1News – 2/09/2022 The dilemma for mothers at Gloriavale has been described at the Employment Court in Christchurch. Former member Virginia Courage is one of six women arguing the West Coast commune should have treated them as employees rather than volunteers. She said her daughter “was treated horribly, she was…
Stuff – The story behind the Gloriavale uniform is all about modesty and (saving) money
: Stuff – 2/09/2022 Clothing is a tool used to control and save money at Gloriavale, with theories about red being a “whore’s colour” and strict rules around how tight to tie your belt. A Gloriavale leaver has revealed what it is like to wear the infamous long blue dresses and…
Newshub – Former Gloriavale resident discusses exhaustion she faced in Christian commune
: Newshub – 2/09/2022 There were tears in the public gallery on Friday as a former resident of Gloriavale recalled the exhaustion and brutal work hours she suffered within the community. Virginia Courage is one of six women arguing she was an employee while working at the isolated Christian commune rather…
Stuff – ‘It’s just your body, no big deal’: Gloriavale leaders allegedly told women to not fear what men did to them
: Stuff – 2/09/2022 A former Gloriavale member says inappropriate touching of women and children became part of the culture, with leaders telling women “I shall not fear what man do to me”. “They demanded a cuddle…Any man could approach any girl or woman and inappropriately touch them,” Virginia Courage told…
1News – Two classes of people in Gloriavale – court hears
: 1News – 1/09/2022 It’s been alleged there are two classes of people living inside the West Coast commune of Gloriavale. Former resident Pearl Valor told the Employment Court that there are different classes depending on who your parents are, and that normally meant “not interacting with low-class cousins”. Valor said…
1News – Gloriavale lawyer says ex-resident signed away employment rights
: 1News – 1/09/2022 It’s been suggested a former Gloriavale resident signed away her workers’ rights. Pearl Valor is one of six women fighting for the right to have been treated as an employee, rather than a volunteer while at the West Coast commune. Read more here: https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/09/01/gloriavale-lawyer-says-ex-resident-signed-away-employment-rights/…
RNZ – Gloriavale leaders thought they were above law – ex-member
: RNZ – 1/09/2022 A former Gloriavale woman says the Christian community’s leaders thought they were above the law. The Employment Court has been hearing evidence from leavers who claim they were working in slave-like conditions and exposed to sexual harassment and abuse from a young age. Read more here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018857067/gloriavale-leaders-thought-they-were-above-law-ex-member…
Stuff – Gloriavale shepherds use food ‘as a weapon’ and believe they are ‘above the law’, leaver says
: Stuff – 1/09/2022 A Gloriavale leaver born into the Christian community says she decided to leave when the community kept changing its values and beliefs to “cover their tracks”. Pearl Valor continued giving evidence on day four of the Christchurch Employment Court hearing on Thursday, where it is alleged women…NZ Herald – ‘Help us’ – Ex-Gloriavale women call on Kiwis for help as they fight for ‘justice’ in Employment Court
: NZ Herald – 1/09/2022 A mum-of-11 who escaped the Gloriavale and is part of an Employment Court case against the Christian community – alleging women are treated as “modern-day slaves” – is calling on Kiwis for help. Virginia Courage and fellow leavers Pearl Valor, Serenity Pilgrim, Rose Standtrue, Anna Courage…
Newshub – Former Gloriavale resident shares experience of growing up in the Christian community
: Newshub – 1/09/2022 A former resident of Gloriavale says she never had access to Panadol growing up and was often berated and accused of being lazy. On the fourth day, Pearl Valor gave evidence at an Employment Court hearing in Christchurch, which is examining the role of women in the…RNZ – Gloriavale leaders thought ‘they were above the law’, former resident says
: RNZ – 01/09/2022 A former Gloriavale woman says the Christian community’s leaders thought they were above the law. The Employment Court has heard evidence from leavers who claim they were working in slave-like conditions and exposed to sexual harassment and abuse from a young age. Pearl Valor was born into…
1News – Two classes of people in Gloriavale – court hears
: By Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 01/09/2022 It’s been alleged there are two classes of people living inside the West Coast commune of Gloriavale. Former resident Pearl Valor told the Employment Court that there are different classes depending on who your parents are, and that normally meant “not interacting…1News – Gloriavale lawyer says ex-resident signed away employment rights
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 01/09/2022 It’s been suggested a former Gloriavale resident signed away her workers’ rights. Pearl Valor is one of six women fighting for the right to have been treated as an employee, rather than a volunteer while at the West Coast commune. Gloriavale’s lawyer Phillip…RNZ – Court hears distressing accounts from ex-Gloriavale women
: RNZ – 31/08/2022 A court has heard distressing testimony from a former Gloriavale woman who says her treatment at the secretive Christian community made her suicidal. The Employment Court has also heard evidence girls as young as eight were worried about being groped while serving food. Read more here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018856906/court-hears-distressing-accounts-from-ex-gloriavale-women…RNZ – Former Gloriavale woman says many girls in community sexually harassed
: RNZ – 31/08/2022 A former Gloriavale member has told the court her treatment at the Christian community made her suicidal, during a harrowing testimony on Wednesday. Rose Standtrue is one of six women arguing that for the domestic work they did for years at Gloriavale, they should have been recognised…
NZ Herald – Emotional testimony from Gloriavale leaver about life of fear, pressure, sexual abuse
: NZ Herald – 31/08/2022 Growing up at Gloriavale Rose Standtrue lived in fear. She feared not waking up in time for work, feared being late and feared being forced to stand in front of the 600-strong population at the Christian commune and apologise if she made any mistakes. She also…1News – Former Gloriavale resident sheds tears as she gives evidence
: 1News – 31/08/2022 A former Gloriavale resident has told the Employment Court she lived in fear of the men and the abuse at the West Coast commune. Rose Standtrue shed tears as she gave evidence on Wednesday. “I wanted to commit suicide because I was real depressed and had anxiety…Newshub – Former Gloriavale resident alleges sexual abuse, public shaming, being cut off from her family when she left community
: Newshub – 31/08/2022 It’s been an emotional day at the Gloriavale Employment Court case, with a witness alleging she was sexually abused, publicly shamed and cut off from her family when she left. Rose Standtrue said she was under so much pressure, she contemplated taking her own life. Every day…NZ Herald – ‘You feel like you always owe them’ – Why Pearl Valor stayed at Gloriavale and the horrors that made her leave
: NZ Herald – 31/08/2022 Pearl Valor has given further evidence in court about her time at the controversial Gloriavale community – breaking down in tears as she recalled being hungry, stealing food and being refused dental treatment. But despite all of that she stayed, the guilt of what would happen…1News – Former Gloriavale resident details alleged workplace abuse
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 31/08/2022 Warning: this story may be distressing for some readers. A former Gloriavale resident has broken down in tears as she recalled thinking suicide was the only way out of the West Coast commune. Rose Standtrue is giving evidence at the Employment Court in…
1News – Poor working conditions of Gloriavale women laid bare in court
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 30/08/2022 Forced to slog for long hours and publicly humiliated for small misdemeanours, the working lives of women at Gloriavale have been laid bare at the Employment Court in Christchurch. Isaac Pilgrim was born and raised at the West Coast commune, and left four…
Greymouth Star – Gloriavale Speaks Up
: A busload of Gloriavale Christian Community residents made a show of unity outside the Christchurch Courthouse yesterday to support the community’s shepherds, or leaders, as six ex-residents began another case in the Employment Court. Gloriavale resident Priscilla Steadfast told Newshub it was all about ensuring their side of the story…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale TV series bride woke at 2am to make sure daily work done, details long and arduous days for women at commune
: NZ Herald – 30/08/2022 One of the young ”stars” of the infamous television shows documenting life at Gloriavale says she often woke at 2am to get her work done and was made to feel “evil” when her husband became so unwell she had to care for him full time instead…1News – Poor working conditions of Gloriavale women laid bare in court
: 1News – 30/08/2022 Forced to slog for long hours and publicly humiliated for small misdemeanours, the working lives of women at Gloriavale have been laid bare at the Employment Court in Christchurch. Read more here: https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/30/poor-working-conditions-of-gloriavale-women-laid-bare-in-court/…Stuff – Gloriavale: Father tells court of ‘public shaming’ culture in community
: Stuff – 30/08/2022 A former Gloriavale member has told the Employment Court he saw a culture of victim blaming during his time at the community. Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor and Virginia Courage are arguing their years of domestic work in the sect were as employees,…RNZ – Blaming, shaming Gloriavale girls the norm, court told
: RNZ – 30/08/2022 A court has been told victim blaming and shaming was standard at Gloriavale, where girls caught in inappropriate relationships with married men were called ‘whores’. Six former Gloriavale women want the Employment Court to rule they were employees, not volunteers, during their time at the West Coast…RNZ – Court told Gloriavale women skipped meals while working
: Newshub – 30/08/2022 A court has heard a Gloriavale woman sometimes didn’t eat or drink while working extremely long hours, and would get in trouble if she stopped. She’s one of six former members seeking a ruling from the Employment Court that they were employees, not volunteers, at the Christian…Newshub – Former Gloriavale resident gives damning assessment of leaders, says he feared for daughter’s safety
: Newshub – 30/08/2022 A former resident of Gloriavale has given a damning assessment of life in the secretive community, recalling the “creepy” and aggressive behaviour of the leaders and fearing for his daughter’s safety. Isaac Pilgrim was giving evidence at the Employment Court in Christchurch, where the judge was told…NZ Herald – ‘I worried for her safety’: Gloriavale dad on why he pulled family out of ‘victim shaming, blaming’ commune
: NZ Herald – 30/08/2022 A man born and raised at Gloriavale has revealed he pulled his family out of the community due to the way his wife and daughter were treated – including being “publicly ridiculed and humiliated” and forced to work. Isaac Pilgrim said he was sick of being…1News – Gloriavale leadership ‘allowed to touch anyone they want’, court hears
: 1News – 30/08/2022 A former Gloriavale resident “beat one young fella up” for harassing his daughter, hoping it would send a message that she was off limits. “I would come and check up on Serena because there would be guys around. “I was worried about young fellas harassing Serena. I…Newshub – Gloriavale accused of ‘brainwashing’ residents into working in ‘scandalous’ conditions at Employment Court hearing
: Michael Morrah, Newshub – 29/08/2022 A former member of the secretive Gloriavale community says residents there are “brainwashed” from a young age with women expected to cook, clean and sew for long hours without taking breaks. The allegations were made at an Employment Court hearing, where it’s being argued women there…1News – Gloriavale woman made to work 90 hours a week for no pay
: 1News – 29/08/2022 Six former Gloriavale women who claim they lived in slave-like conditions and worked under a regime of total control will have their case heard by the Employment Court from today. Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor and Virginia Courage contend they were employees…RNZ – Former Gloriavale women take case to Employment Court
: RNZ – 29/08/2022 Six former Gloriavale women who claim they lived in slave-like conditions and worked under a regime of total control will have their case heard by the Employment Court from today. Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor and Virginia Courage contend they were employees…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale: Women had ‘no choice’ about ‘extremely long’ working hours, claim ‘servitude, slavery and forced labour’ at Christian community
: By Anna Leask – NZ Herald – 29/08/2022 A group of women who spent most of their lives at Gloriavale will today begin giving “scandalous” evidence in their bid to get a court to rule they were employees and not volunteers during their time at the secretive Christian community. Serenity…RNZ – ‘The truth is it is dark’ – Gloriavale workers begin Employment Court trial
: RNZ – 29/08/2022 A former Gloriavale member has told the Employment Court she would work until she fell asleep as a teenager in the closed Christian community. Today marked the beginning of a five-week hearing before chief judge Christina Inglis in Christchurch, where 49 witnesses will provide evidence. Serenity Pilgrim…RNZ – Gloriavale set to face employment case alleging ‘slave-like conditions’
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 25/08/2022 Six former Gloriavale women will tell a court they lived in “slave-like conditions” working as employees under an all-pervading regime of secular and religious control. The Employment Court will next week hear a case brought by Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal…
RNZ – Gloriavale accused of creating blacklist as ex-members’ legal case looms
: By RNZ – 23/08/2022 Gloriavale has effectively drawn up a blacklist by surveying members’ opposition to people speaking on their behalf in court, the leavers’ support trust says. The reclusive Christian community is examining responses to the ‘Gloriavale Members Voice’ survey created by a member, which asks people if they…
Stuff – Gloriavale residents asked to silence ex-members for new Employment Court hearing
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 22/08/2022 Gloriavale residents have been asked to consider putting in writing their opposition to former members speaking on their behalf at an upcoming court case. A survey, titled Gloriavale Members Voice, was created by a resident and has been circulated in the West Coast…
Newstalk ZB – Film: Gloriavale and Good Luck to you Leo Grande
: Newstalk ZB – Mornings with Jack Tame – 20/08/2022 Francesca Rudkin: Gloriavale and Good Luck to you Leo Grande – Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Listen here: https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/audio/francesca-rudkin-gloriavale-and-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande/ (First 3 minutes 45 seconds on Gloriavale Movie)…
NZ Herald – Movie review: Gloriavale
: By Tom Augustine – NZ Herald – 19/08/2022 There are certainly shades of the addictive true crime documentary formula that has swept the world in the buzzed-about New Zealand/Australia co-production Gloriavale. From its handsome, wintry cinematography to its eerie use of archival footage of the religious sect’s early days, all…
Tova O’Brien – New Gloriavale Documentary – “They’re actually abusing Christianity”
: Description A new documentary hitting cinemas today is lifting the veil on West Coast commune Gloriavale. It follows the lives of two ousted members, John Ready and Virginia Courage, plaintiffs in court proceedings accusing the community leaders of human rights and employment breaches. The gritty watch is a rare snapshot…
RNZ – New documentary Gloriavale follows groundbreaking legal case launched against community leaders
: By RNZ / Newshub – 18/08/2022 Sharon Ready has lived in the Gloriavale community for 50 years, first entering as a 15-year-old when the community was based in Springbank, Rangiora. “It’s my turangawaewae,” she says. “This is where I stand because my faith, I started there as a Christian and…
Stuff – Gloriavale: Enlightening, heartrending doco lifts the veil on ‘NZ’s secret cult’
: By James Croot – Stuff – 17/08/2022 Gloriavale (M, 89mins) **** Lifting the veil on “New Zealand’s secret cult” and its apparent fall from utopian ideal to Animal Farm-esque nightmare, this enlightening, heartrending, rage-inducing documentary follows former members as they battle for justice – and reform – from the outside.…
RNZ – Gloriavale’s secrets and the fight for justice
: By RNZ – Nine To Noon – 16/08/2022 A new documentary gives an eye-opening look into the secrets of the Gloriavale Christian Community and the fight for justice by a group of former residents and supporters. The film simply entitled Gloriavale features members of the Ready family as they mount…RNZ – Gloriavale ordered to improve workplace safety standards
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 14/08/2022 Gloriavale has been ordered to improve workplace safety standards again after a visit by inspectors, but no children were found working in the reclusive Christian community’s commercial businesses. WorkSafe assessors travelled to Gloriavale near Greymouth in May after a landmark Employment Court ruling…RNZ – Sharon Ready & Liz Gregory: standing up to the Gloriavale shepherds
: By RNZ – Saturday Morning – 13/08/2022 Sharon Ready has lived in the Gloriavale community for 50 years, first entering as a 15-year-old when the community was based in Springbank, Rangiora. “It’s my turangawaewae,” she says. “This is where I stand because my faith, I started there as a Christian…
MammaMia – ‘I spent two days inside a cult and I can see why people join them.’
: By Kelly Eden – MammaMia – 13/08/2022 “We were there for the entire weekend. You can’t make a community of 500 fake it for that long,” I argued. “It seems like a really peaceful place to live.” I could see the attraction for joining, but that was before recent news…
Woman’s Day – Life after Gloriavale: ‘Our nightmare is finally over!’
: By Sophie Neville – Woman’s Day – 11/08/2022 Timaru mum Virginia reveals why she and her family had to escape the controversial community. For 27 years, former Gloriavale resident Virginia Courage was tormented by nightmares. She’d often lie awake in the cramped bunk room she shared with her husband and…
1News – Gloriavale’s school reopens after sudden closure
: 1News – 09/08/2022 Gloriavale Christian School have confirmed they reopened on Tuesday after it was temporarily closed last week. The principal and several teachers stood aside while a police investigation was carried out on abuse claims. Sources told 1News last week just two teachers were left for 200 students, so…
1News – Gloriavale doc lifts the lid on secretive Christian community
: 1News – 06/08/2022 It’s hoped a new film about the West Coast commune of Gloriavale will give the public a better insight into the fight for change still being waged. Released on Saturday as part of New Zealand’s International Film Festival, the documentary simply titled Gloriavale follows one woman who…
1News – Gloriavale school hopes students will return to classrooms next week
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 05/08/2022 The West Coast commune of Gloriavale hopes students will return to its classrooms next week, but expects home-schooling will still be in use. The private school has been temporarily closed after the principal and several teachers stood aside while a police investigation is…RNZ – Gloriavale plans to reopen school next week after staff shortages forced closure
: RNZ – 05/08/2022 The Ministry of Education has met with members of Gloriavale today about re-opening the community’s school. The school has been closed since Tuesday due to staff shortages. It is understood a number of staff have stepped down while an investigation is carried out into allegations of abuse…
1News – Ministry meets with Gloriavale leadership over school closure
: By Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 05/08/2022 The Ministry of Education is meeting with staff at Gloriavale Christian School on Friday, in an attempt to get children back in the classroom. The private school has been temporarily closed after the principal and several teachers stood aside while a police…
Stuff – Gloriavale Christian School temporarily closes due to staffing shortage
: By Steven Walton – Stuff – 04/08/2022 Gloriavale Christian School has temporarily closed amid a staffing shortage, reportedly caused by allegations of abuse. Nancy Bell, leader of Te Tai Runga (South) at the Ministry of Education confirmed the school’s closure and said it was addressing a staffing shortage. The ministry…
NZ Herald – Judge tells Gloriavale leaders she will not stand aside from employment case
: By Ric Stevens – Open Justice – NZ Herald 04/08/2022 The Chief Judge of the Employment Court has rejected a bid by Gloriavale’s leaders to have her stand aside from another case involving the employment status of members of the exclusive Christian community. Six former Gloriavale members have brought a…
1News – Gloriavale school closes temporarily pending abuse investigation
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 04/08/2022 Gloriavale Christian School has been temporarily closed pending an investigation into allegations of abuse. The West Coast commune has been at the centre of accusations of sexual and physical abuse for decades, with police and Oranga Tamariki carrying out multiple investigations and laying…
Capsule – Gloriavale Documentary
: By Emma Clifton – Capsule – 03/08/2022 A new documentary, Gloriavale, follows a family from the secretive religious community: siblings John and Virginia, who have both left Gloriavale, and their mother Sharon, who remains. It covers the serious allegations against the Gloriavale leaders, which include sexual abuse, neglect and slavery.…
Employment Court of New Zealand – INTERLOCUTORY JUDGMENT (NO 5) OF CHIEF JUDGE CHRISTINA INGLIS (Application for recusal)
: Employment Court of New Zealand 03/08/2022 [2022] NZEmpC 138 EMPC 85/2022 INTERLOCUTORY JUDGMENT (NO 5) OF CHIEF JUDGE CHRISTINA INGLIS (Application for recusal) [1] The second defendants (who I will refer to as the Gloriavale defendants) seek orders that I recuse myself from these proceedings. The application is…
Newshub – The Project – Inside Gloriavale
: Newshub – The Project – 01/08/2022 Gloriavale is a community shrouded in controversy and mystery. Now a new documentary aims to peel back the curtain. Director Fergus Grady joins us at the desk to talk more. View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_2S0vzneTg…
NZ Herald – The Front Page: Inside Gloriavale – The woman fighting for change from within
: By Damien Venuto – NZ Herald – 28/07/2022 Sharon Ready currently lives above an aircraft hangar that served as the former commercial base for Gloriavale. It’s cold, dark and damp, but she stays on because this is where her family and deceased relatives are located. “Sharon is what I would…
Newshub – Five films to see at the New Zealand International Film Festival
: By Darren Bevan – Newshub – 26/07/2022 One year after being cancelled last minute in Auckland due to COVID-19, cinephiles are rejoicing with the return of the 2022 Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival just days away. The event opens on Thursday in Tāmaki Makaurau with the premiere of…
Stuff – ‘Major employment issues’ at Gloriavale prompted Westland Dairy’s decision to stop collecting its milk
: By Jake Kenny – Stuff – 25/07/2022 The Gloriavale Christian community has sought a High Court injunction forcing Westland Dairy Company to continue collecting milk from its three farms, saying the farms are not in breach of employment law. The legal action comes a month after Westland Dairy Company announced…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale milk row: No child labour used on farms for at least five years, court hears
: By Kurt Bayer – NZ Herald – 25/07/2022 Child labour hasn’t been used on Gloriavale’s dairy farms for at least five years, a court heard today as the under-fire Christian community fights to save a lucrative dairy contract. Chinese-owned Westland announced last month it was stopping milk collection from Gloriavale-owned…
Stuff – Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival: Eight great Kiwi films to check out
: By James Croot and Graeme Tuckett – Stuff – 24/07/2022 The 2022 edition of Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival will screen in 14 towns and cities across Aotearoa between July 28 and August 31. From heartfelt dramas to portraits of local artists, portmanteau pictures and documentaries revisiting sometimes…Flicks: Gloriavale filmmakers shed light on their eye-opening NZIFF doco
: By Steve Newall – Flicks – 18/07/2022 As part of our Q&A series for local features playing as part of Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival, filmmakers Noel Smyth and Fergus Grady shed some light on their eye-opening documentary Gloriavale. Describe your film in EXACTLY eight words. One family’s…
The Platform – Noel Smyth on his new documentary film Gloriavale
: The Platform – 13/07/2022 Leanne Malcolm chats with Noel Smyth about his new documentary film Gloriavale. Watch / Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFx9q1WLFNc…
‘Gloriavale’: Compelling Feature Doc Goes Beyond The Headlines To Lift The Lid On NZ’s Secretive Christian Community
: Scoop Media – Press Release – 11/07/2022 GLORIAVALE, a compelling new feature documentary which lifts the lid on the infamous Gloriavale Christian Community cult, will have its World Premiere on Saturday 6 August, 2022 at Christchurch’s Isaac Royal Theatre, screening as part of Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival…
Stuff – Gloriavale woman describes her daughter’s tragic death in new film
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 10/07/2022 Helpless, severely sleep-deprived and shut in a room where the door handles had been disabled, Sharon Ready was unable to save her cherished youngest daughter from dying before her eyes. The Gloriavale woman, who has 13 children and 71 grandchildren, has opened up…
Stuff – Countdown’s supply chain policy sparks questions about Westland Dairy Company dealings with Gloriavale Christian Community
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 25/06/2022 Countdown’s efforts to make sure that its supply chains aren’t sustaining illegal labour practices, including child labour, have prompted the supermarket chain to question Westland Dairy Company dealings with the Gloriavale Christian Community. The dairy company attempted to distance itself from Gloriavale farms…
Twitter – John Campbell – Will Gloriavale ever change?
: Twitter – John Campbell – 21/06/2022 Twitter conversation – John Campbell, Liz Gregory, Rosanna Overcomer Listen here – (Note: conversation starts at 11 minutes 15 seconds into the recording) www.twitter.com/1NewsNZ/status/1539080676070215680 Will Gloriavale ever change? Join us for a conversation with @JohnJCampbell, Liz Gregory (Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust) and former Gloriavale…
Stuff – Blackcurrant business supreme winner at South Canterbury awards
: By Yashas Srinivasa – Stuff – 20/06/2022 A Pleasant Point couple’s blackcurrant business was the supreme winner at the 2022 South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Ara Business Excellence Awards. Tony and Afsaneh Howey’s business, Viberi, also won the global exporter award at the awards, held in multiple events throughout the…
Rural News (REX Today) – David Ready on the ERA ruling about Gloriavale’s breach of labour laws
: REX Today Podcast – Hosted by agricultural journalist Dominic George – 20/06/20022 Things are ramping up at Gloriavale as businesses act on the ERA ruling that the Christian community was in breach of labour laws, using child and volunteer labour. Gloriavale has sought a high court injunction forcing Westland Dairy…
NZ Herald (from Greymouth Star) – Westland Milk Products resumes collection at Gloriavale after court injunction
: NZ Herald (from Greymouth Star) – 16/06/2022 Westland Milk Products has resumed milk collection from Gloriavale’s Lake Haupiri farms, after the Christian community was granted an interim court injunction to prevent the dairy company from withdrawing. Canaan Farming Ltd says it has received “role model” status in past audits from…Greymouth Star – Milk tankers back at Gloriavale
: By Laura Mills – Greymouth Star – 15/06/2022 Westland Milk Products has resumed milk collection from Gloriavale’s Lake Haupiri farms, after the Christian community was granted an interim court injunction to prevent the dairy company from withdrawing. Cannan Farming Ltd says it has received ‘role model’ status in past audits…
RNZ – Gloriavale seeks interim injunction over Westland Milk contract
: RNZ – Newstalk ZB – Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive – 15/06/2022 Gloriavale has sought an interim injunction to force Westland Dairy to continue collecting its milk. Westland suspended collection after Gloriavale was found to have been in breach of labour laws, including child labour. The injunction would force Westland to…
Stuff – Gloriavale seeks injunction forcing Westland Dairy to continue collecting its milk
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 15/06/2022 The Gloriavale Christian community has sought a High Court injunction forcing Westland Dairy Company to continue collecting milk from its three farms. The legal action comes less than a week after Westland Dairy Company, announced it would cease taking Gloriavale milk from June…RNZ – Gloriavale seeks injunction forcing Westland Milk to continue collection
: RNZ – 15/06/2022 Gloriavale has sought a High Court injunction forcing Westland Milk to continue collecting milk from the community’s dairy farms. Westland Milk announced it would stop collecting milk from the the reclusive West Coast Christian sect’s farms after the Employment Court ruled members of the community who worked…Greymouth Star – Calls for Gloriavale apology to go wider
: By Laura Mills – Greymouth Star – 14/06/2022 Gloriavale says it is working on getting its unprecedented recent apology to those who have left the Lake Haupiri community. The Gloriavale Christian Community leadership issued the public apology on May 27. However, some leavers are asking why is was not sent…
1News – Govt action needed at Gloriavale to ensure change – leaver
: 1News – Breakfast – 13/06/2022 A Gloriavale leaver says greater agency involvement is needed to ensure there is meaningful change within the tight knit, secretive West Coast community. Gloriavale has come under fire in recent years amid allegations of serious misconduct, including – but not limited to – labour exploitation…
1News – Gloriavale rewriting document that gives husbands control over wives
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 13/06/2022 Gloriavale’s leadership is rewriting a controversial document that gives husbands complete control over their wives. TVNZ’s Sunday programme has highlighted the pledge members make when they join the West Coast commune, which includes losing the right to say “no” to sex in marriage.…
1News – Sunday – Leaving Gloriavale
: 1News – Sunday – Leaving Gloriavale Leaving Gloriavale means leaving your home, your family, maybe everything you’ve ever known. Then heading, with little or no money, into a world you’ve been told is damned. But sometimes you have no choice, because you’ve started questioning the leaders. The tight-knit, secretive Christian…
1News – Divine Consent
: By John Campbell – 1News – 12/06/2022 At the end of May, we went to Gloriavale. TVNZ’s Sunday programme had been shooting in Timaru… and on a blue, blue day, we drove north through Geraldine, then Windwhistle (whose name I wanted to use), stopping for a pie at Darfield… and…Greymouth Star – Milk deal canned
: By Laura Mills – Greymouth Star – 09/06/2022 Westland Milk Products announced today it will suspend milk collection from Gloriavale-owned dairy farmers from June 13. In a short statement on behalf of chief executive Richard Wyeth, Chinese-owned Westland Milk said it advised Gloriavale yesterday that it would suspend collection from…Stuff – Westland Milk Products suspends collection from Gloriavale dairy farms until the Christian Community “meets the standards and values” of wider New Zealand
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 09/06/2022 Westland Milk Products has indefinitely suspended milk collection from dairy farms owned by the Gloriavale Christian Community. The suspension begins on June 13, to coincide with the end of the milking season, so there will be no issues around livestock welfare or milk…
Rural News – Rendered unworthy!
: By Daniel Anderson – Rural News – 08/06/2022 Hot on the heels of moves by Westland Milk to stop processing its milk, reclusive Christian community Gloriavale looks to be shedding more agribusiness suppliers and customers. Rural News earlier reported that the Hokitika-based processor is considering suspendiing milk collection from Canaan…
Rural News – Gloriavale issues apology
: By Staff Reporters – Rural News – 08/06/2022 In late May, the Gloriavale Community issued a public letter of apology in regard to both its past employment and community actions. An abridged version of the letter follows: We can state categorically that child labour is no longer used in the…
Today FM – Hopes review will put groups like Gloriavale on notice
: By Grady Connell – Today FM – 03/06/2022 On Tova we have been pushing hard for a review of the charities act following revelations of the mistreatment of their members by some mega-churches and particularly Gloriavale’s reprehensible use of child labour, threats, manipulation and abuse of children. We’ve been asking…
Maori Television – ‘Evil, cannibalistic and demonic’ – Gloriavale’s view of Māori revealed
: By Stefan Dimitrof – Maori Television – 02/06/2022 Former Gloriavale resident Constance Ready is healing from her time with the Gloriavale religious sect by finding joy in reconnecting with her Māori roots. Ready talked about growing up at Gloriavale and explained why she left at a recent Real Talk event…
Tova O’Brien – Son of Gloriavale’s former school principal believes nature of community is tough
: By Tova O’Brien Faithful Pilgrim’s son and former Gloriavale member, Zion, joined Tova on Wednesday morning. Zion’s father resigned in 2020 as principal of the Gloriavale school for failing to protect children in his care, and spoke about what this further resignation means to him and to the broader community.…
RNZ – James Harrison: Former Gloriavale member says he finds it hard to believe Fervent Stedfast has genuine remorse, suspects political expedience
: RNZ – Newstalk ZB – The Mike Hosking Breakfast – 01/06/2022 It’s remaining unclear what the resignation of two senior leaders in Gloriavale will mean for the community. The resignation of Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim follows an unprecedented apology last Friday. Both have faced issues around employment and protecting…
1News – Gloriavale: Calls for more leaders to stand down
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 01/06/2022 Five members of Gloriavale’s leadership team have left in the last two years, and there are calls for more to stand down. Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim on Tuesday resigned as shepherds in the West Coast commune. Stedfast was accused of failing to…
Newstalk ZB – Former Gloriavale member: Hard to believe Stedfast has genuine remorse
: Newstalk ZB – 01/06/2022 It’s remaining unclear what the resignation of two senior leaders in Gloriavale will mean for the community. The resignation of Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim follows an unprecedented apology last Friday. Both have faced issues around employment and protecting children in their care. Former Gloriavale member…RNZ – Gloriavale veterans quit roles in wake of multiple scandals
: RNZ News – 31/05/2022 Two senior Gloriavale leaders, Fervent Steadfast and Faithful Pilgrim, have resigned from their senior positions within the Christian community. Some of the men’s failings were heard in the community’s Employment Court hearing last month. Fervent Steadfast has been accused of improperly handling issues around employment and…
1News – Gloriavale: 2 senior leaders step down from roles
: By Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 31/05/2022 Two senior leaders at the Christian commune of Gloriavale have stepped down from their roles. Fervent Stedfast has resigned from being a senior community leader, after he was accused of failing to handle employment matters during his time as Gloriavale’s financial controller.…
Stuff – Two senior Gloriavale leaders stand down amid promise of change
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 31/05/2022 Two senior leaders have resigned from their positions at the Gloriavale Christian Community. In a statement, a spokesperson announced Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim had stepped down from their leadership roles. They were part of a leadership group of 16 servants and shepherds…NZ Herald (from Greymouth Star) – Two of Gloriavale’s most senior leaders resign following public apology
: NZ Herald (From Greymouth Star) – 31/05/2022 Two of the most senior leaders at the Gloriavale Christian Community have resigned their positions, as the community fulfils its promise to change following the unprecedented public apology last Friday. Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim have both gone, according to a statement from…
RNZ – Liz Gregory: Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust spokesperson says despite the resignation of two senior leaders at Gloriavale, there’s been no real change at the top.
: RNZ – Newstalk ZB – Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby – 31/05/2022 There are concerns that despite the resignation of two senior leaders at Gloriavale, there’s been no real change at the top. Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim have both left their leadership roles. It follows an unprecedented public apology…
RNZ – Hosea Courage: Gloriavale has never stepped down leaders because of outside opinions ever
: RNZ – Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive – 31/05/2022 The resignations of two senior leaders of Gloriavale have shocked former members. Fervent Stedfast and Faithful Pilgrim have both left their leadership roles. It comes as the community promises to change in an unprecedented public apology last Friday. Former member Hosea Courage…
Stuff – Former Gloriavale worker scarred by third-degree burn wants businesses closed until safety and pay issues are sorted
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 239/05/2022 GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Evidence of Faithful Disciple’s work at the Gloriavale Christian Community is seared into his flesh. He suffered an excruciating third degree burn to his ankle when a stream of 103C water shot into his gumboot as he struggled to fix…
RNZ – Checkpoint – Gloriavale leaver reacts to community’s apology over abuse
: RNZ – Checkpoint – Lisa Owen – 27/05/2022 The leadership of Gloriavale is publicly repenting…issuing a statement apologising for failing to protect sex abuse victims and exploited workers. A landmark court decision recently ruled that three former residents of the commune were employees from age six doing strenuous difficult and…
Stuff – ‘First time I’ve heard them apologise’: Gloriavale leaders say sorry for ‘failing to protect’ members
: By Marine Lourens and Rachael Comer – Stuff – 27/05/2022 • The leadership of the Gloriavale Christian community has released a statement apologising for not protecting members against labour exploitation and sexual abuse. • The leaders detailed measures put in place to prevent this from reoccurring in the future. •…RNZ – Sanction of former Gloriavale school principal ‘a little soft’, trust says
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 27/05/2022 The trust supporting former members of the reclusive Gloriavale community is surprised the former Christian School principal has not been struck off the register for twice endorsing a teacher he knew had sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl. Faithful Pilgrim has instead been suspended…
Newshub – Former Gloriavale residents sceptical over leaders’ ‘unprecedented’ apology about sexual abuse and worker exploitation
: Michael Morrah – Newshub – 27/05/2022 Gloriavale’s leaders have issued an unprecedented apology – but it’s been met with caution from former residents. They wrote a letter admitting they failed to protect victims of sexual abuse and labour exploitation, and they’re promising change. Gloriavale’s known for conducting its affairs privately.…
Newstalk ZB – NZ Herald Reporter: Current Gloriavale leaders were born there and lack perspective
: Newstalk ZB – Heather Du Plessis Allan Drive – 27/05/2022 Warnings it’s far past time Gloriavale asks the outside world what is and isn’t appropriate. The secretive Christian community has apologised today. Several members have been charged for child and sexual abuse crimes and the Employment Court has just ruled…
RNZ / Newshub – Gloriavale leaders apologise over sex abuse and exploitation failures
: RNZ – 27/05/2022 Gloriavale’s leaders have offered a public apology for failing to protect victims of labour exploitation and sexual abuse. The apology comes in the wake of multiple scandals surrounding the reclusive West Coast Christian sect. Just this week Silver Fern Farms pulled out of commercial agreements with the…1News – Gloriavale leaders issue apology for failing to ‘protect victims’
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 27/05/2022 Gloriavale’s leadership has issued an apology to current and former members, saying it “draws a firm line in the sand between the past and the future”. The West Coast commune has been at the centre of accusations of sexual and physical abuse for…
RNZ – Former Gloriavale principal suspended from teaching for hiding assault
: RNZ – Morning Report – 27/05/2022 A former Gloriavale Christian School principal has been suspended from teaching for three months for twice endorsing a teacher he knew had sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl. Faithful Pilgrim was sanctioned for serious misconduct by the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal for commending Just Standfast as…
Stuff – Gloriavale principal knew of sexual offending but allowed teacher to continue working
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 26/05/2022 The principal at the Gloriavale Christian School has been suspended for serious misconduct. A decision by the New Zealand Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal says Faithful Pilgrim was a teacher at the school for 45 years and was principal from 1995 to 2020. It found…1News – Gloriavale teacher’s practising certificate suspended for 3 months
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 26/05/2022 A teacher at Gloriavale Christian School has had his practising certificate suspended for three months after endorsing a colleague he knew had sexually abused a child. Faithful Pilgrim was the principal of the school between 1995 and 2020. He has been a teacher…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale principal kept quiet about teacher’s sexual abuse of 9yo girl
: by Dubby Henry – NZ Herald – 26/056/2022 The former principal of Gloriavale Christian School has been banned from leading a school for three years after failing to report a teacher’s sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl. Faithful Pilgrim has admitted he “failed dismally as a principal” when he did…
Greymouth Star – Gloriavale ‘preparing for change’
: By Laura Mills – Greymouth Star – 25/05/2022 There are signs Gloriavale plans to ride out the current storm of controversy, after suggestions that more businesses may stop working with the 600-strong Lake Haupiri commune. Westland Milk Products says it is investigating legal avenues to possibly suspend milk collection from…
The Wire – Employment Court rules Gloriavale leavers are employees, legal experts weigh in
: The Wire – 95 b FM – 25/05/2022 On May 10, New Zealand’s Employment Court reached a landmark decision against the Gloriavale religious community, classifying the work members do as employment, going against their claims that residents were volunteers. This comes after years of allegations against the Christian community that…
The Press – Editorial – 25/05/2022 – Commercial Ties Should Be Cut
: The Press – Editorial – Commercial Ties Should be Cut – 25 May 2022 Gloriavale has had a bad few weeks. Things started to go wrong on May 10, when the Employment Court ruled the secretive West Coast Christian community’s residents were not volunteers while working up to 70-hour weeks…RNZ – Silver Fern Farms will no longer supply offal to Gloriavale meat plant
: By Niva Chittock – RNZ – 24/05/2022 Silver Fern Farms has announced it will no longer be working with the Gloriavale Christian community. “Silver Fern Farms has decided to begin the process to discontinue any commercial arrangements with Value Proteins [Gloriavale’s trading company]. We will now be working with all…RNZ – Jamie Mackay: This will snowball and everyone will end up blacklisting Gloriavale
: RNZ – Newstalk ZB – Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive – 24/05/2022 Is Gloriavale the new Russia of the NZ Ag Sector? Silver Fern Farms has announced it will no longer be working with the Gloriavale Christian community after the Employment Court found they were making kids work. It’s National Lamb…
Rural News – Hopeful Christians
: By Sudesh Kissun – Rural News – 24/05/2022 The reclusive Gloriavale Christian community stands to lose $9 million a year if Westland Milk suspends milk collection from its dairy farms. Hokitika-based processor Westland says it is looking at suspending milk collection from Canaan Farming Dairy Ltd, which operated the Gloriavale…1News – Major meat company ends relationship with Gloriavale
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 24/05/2022 A major meat company is ending its relationship with the Christian commune of Gloriavale over workers’ rights. In a statement to 1News, Silver Fern Farms said it “has decided to begin the process to discontinue any commercial arrangements” with Gloriavale company Value Proteins.…
Stuff – Gloriavale factory loses meat company contract, and a worker’s third degree burns spark a WorkSafe investigation
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 24/05/2022 Silver Fern Farms is pulling out of supplying offal to a meal plant at the Gloriavale Christian Community because of concern about its labour practices, and other meat companies may follow suit. This comes on top of last week’s announcement that Westland Dairy…RNZ – Jamie Mackay: This will snowball and everyone will end up blacklisting Gloriavale
: RNZ – Newstalk ZB – Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive – 24/05/2022 Is Gloriavale the new Russia of the NZ Ag Sector? Silver Fern Farms has announced it will no longer be working with the Gloriavale Christian community after the Employment Court found they were making kids work. It’s National Lamb…
Freetipsquickly – Gloriavale working relationships mean children employees
: By John Farrow – 20/05/2022 The Chief Judge of the Employment Court recently found that three former members of the Gloriavale Christian Community were employees. They had applied to the court for declarations to this effect. However, due to a complex structure, including limited liability companies, partnerships, a nominee company…
Stuff – Employed from as young as 6 – ruling likely to mean changes at Gloriavale
: By David Burton – Stuff Opinion – 18/05/2022 OPINION: For the last few years a group of three former members of the South Island Gloriavale Christian community have been seeking action on what they claimed were extensive breaches of employment rights at Gloriavale. The Labour Inspectorate had already twice visited…RNZ – Westland looks to suspend milk collection from Gloriavale operated farms
: RNZ – 16/05/2022 Westland Milk is looking to suspend milk collection from dairy farms operated by Gloriavale. Last week the Employment Court ruled that members of the christian community who worked up to 70 hours a week for years were not volunteers. This opens the door for the labour inspectorate…
Stuff – Family desperate for dental care after years of little treatment at Gloriavale
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 15/05/2022 A family who left Gloriavale nine months ago are fundraising for dental treatment they say was caused by years of being deprived of dental care. Hopeful Disciple and his wife Victory left the West Coast Christian community to protect their children. “Wrong was…
Stuff – Chained to a jo… er recreational activity they absolutely love
: By Andrew Gunn – Stuff – 14/05/2022 OPINION/SATIRE: 215 BC, the Mediterranean Sea. A ROMAN GALLEY SHIP glides across the water. Inside, the GALLEY MASTER presides over a hundred sweaty, half-naked rowers, all toiling to pull their heavy oars to the beat of his drum. GM: Heave! Heave! Heave! There…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale – Zion Pilgrim’s story on leaving the Christian Community
: NZ Herald – Hope Project – 14/05/2022 Zion Pilgrim had spent all his life living at Gloriavale on the South Island’s West Coast. It was the only life he knew growing up. But in 2020 he left Gloriavale after questioning the leadership, a decision he doesn’t regret. It was, according…
Stuff – Sexual misconduct advocate helps young woman escape Gloriavale for life of freedom
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 13/05/2022 A former lawyer and advocate against sexual misconduct in the workplace who helped trigger New Zealand’s #MeToo movement has been helping a woman escape Gloriavale. The woman, who did not want to be named, fled the secretive West Coast community last year. Olivia…ODT – Agencies in Spotlight in Gloriavale Case
: Otago Daily Times – Opinion – 12/05/2022 A clutch of government agencies must do some serious soul searching about their inaction over concerns raised about work practices and the treatment of children at the Gloriavale Christian Community. This week, the Employment Court chief judge Christina Inglis found that three former…
YouTube – BHN – Gloriavale, “New Zealand’s biggest crime scene” with Olivia Wensley
: YouTube – BHN – 12/05/2022 Former lawyer. CEO of Startup Queenstown Lakes and the catalyst for the #MeToo movement in NZ, Olivia Wensley, joins us to tell her story of helping a 22-year-old woman and her mother escape Gloriavale after coming and going to the West Coast community for 6…
RNZ – Ex-Gloriavale member urges govt agencies to enter community
: RNZ Checkpoint – 12/05/2022 Video and audio can be seen in article link. A former Gloriavale resident who was used as unpaid child labour says it time government agencies went into the closed fundamentalist Christian community, opened their eyes and did their job. In landmark decision this week the employment…
Stuff – Gloriavale could be liable for millions of dollars in unpaid wages
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 12/05/2022 A former Gloriavale leader says it is only fair people are compensated for the work they did in creating wealth for the community. The bill could add up to as much as $20 million – but even that wouldn’t bankrupt the asset-rich community,…
Tova O’Brien – Gloriavale cannot hide behind the iron curtain of religion anymore
: By Tova O’Brien – Today FM – 11/05/2022 I’m going to tread carefully here because I really don’t want this to be misconstrued as me trampling on anyone’s religious beliefs. I respect everyone’s choice to believe or not believe in any god. What I don’t respect is people hiding behind…
Newstalk ZB – John MacDonald: Gloriavale is nothing short of modern-day slavery
: Newstalk ZB – Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald – 11/05/2022 There is no place in New Zealand for an outfit like Gloriavale. It cannot be allowed to continue operating. And it is absolutely shameful that we have pretty much turned a blind eye to what’s been going on there for…
Newshub – Lawyer involved in Gloriavale employment case slams Government over lack of intervention into community
: By Ireland Hendry-Tennent – Newshub – 11/05/2022 The barrister who led a legal challenge against Gloriavale is hitting out at the Government over its lack of action. It comes after the Employment Court ruled three Gloriavale leavers were in fact employees, not volunteers. Chief Judge Christina Inglis released her reserved…
Newshub – Charities Services announces investigation into Gloriavale while WorkSafe and Labour Inspectorate to visit
: By Michael Morrah – Newshub – 11/05/2022 The Charities Services has announced an investigation into Gloriavale and both WorkSafe and the Labour Inspectorate say they’ll be visiting the community, following a landmark Employment Court ruling. But a former Gloriavale leader said he wants to see action, not just noise, and…
RNZ – WorkSafe inspectors to visit Gloriavale, charities regulator opens investigation after ruling
: By Jean Edwards – RNZ – 11/05/2022 Workplace inspectors will again visit Gloriavale and the charities regulator has launched a new investigation following a breakthrough Employment Court ruling on child labour at the reclusive Christian community. Government agencies are under pressure to act after the court found children as young…Newstalk ZB – Dr Liz Gordon: Former MP and educational researcher strongly pushes for change in Gloriavale
: Newstalk ZB – Canterbury Mornings With John MacDonald – 11/05/2022 Dr Liz Gordon is a former MP and is currently an educational researcher. For 25 years she has been pushing for the closure of the school within Gloriavale, and to make public education possible for its residents. She spoke to…
NZ Herald – Former Gloriavale dairy farmer believes he ‘possibly’ beat schoolboy workers
: NZ Herald – 11/05/2022 A former Gloriavale dairy farmer believes he “possibly” beat schoolboys who worked for him following the Employment Court landmark decision. Yesterday, the court ruled that a group of ex-Gloriavale members were employees at the secretive Christian community – from when they were just 6 years old.…
Stuff – Charities Services open new investigation into Gloriavale’s charitable status following Employment Court decision
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 11/05/2022 The Government’s Charities Services have opened a new investigation into the charitable status of West Coast Christian community Gloriavale. Charities Services general manager Mike Stone said the investigation would look at whether Gloriavale, as a registered charity, had met its obligations under the…
Newstalk ZB – Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust: Employment Court’s decision sets a precedent for future cases
: Newstalk ZB – Early Edition – 11/05/2022 The spotlight is turning to other cases at Gloriavale which could be described as forced labour. The Employment Court has ruled three ex-residents were employees from the age of six, not volunteers. It found the work can’t be described as chores or education,…
Newshub – Former Gloriavale resident ‘ecstatic’ following landmark Employment Court ruling
: By Michael Morrah – Newshub – 10/05/2022 A former Gloriavale resident is “ecstatic” following a ruling that found three leavers from the Christian community are actually classed as employees. For decades, Gloriavale has relied on child labour to ensure the success of its businesses. But Chief Employment Court Judge Christina…Newshub – Former Gloriavale members win Employment Court case
: By Ireland Hendry-Tennent – Newshub – 10/05/2022 Three Gloriavale leavers have been classified as employees after an Employment Court ruling on Tuesday. Chief Judge Christina Inglis released her reserved decision into whether the leavers were employees of the West Coast Christian community or not. The Labour Inspectorate had previously classified…NZ Herald – Employment Court rules Gloriavale members were ’employees’ from age 6, undertook ‘laborious, often dangerous’ work – not ‘chores’
: By Anna Leask – NZ Herald – 10/05/2022 Video – see article link. The Employment Court has ruled that a group of ex-Gloriavale members were employees at the secretive Christian community – from when they were just 6 years old. Further, the members undertook “strenuous, difficult, and sometimes dangerous” work…
Stuff – Children’s work not ‘chores’: Gloriavale leavers win Employment Court case
: By Joanne Naish and Cate Macintosh – Stuff – 10/005/2022 Former Gloriavale members say they are “finally being heard” after the Employment Court’s ruling that they were employees. Two of the three former workers who brought the case, Daniel Pilgrim and Hosea Courage, spoke to media outside Christchurch’s justice precinct…Stuff – Landmark Gloriavale employment ruling could open door for thousands of dollars in back pay
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 10/05/2022 Former Gloriavale members who worked up to 70 hours a week for years were not volunteers, the Employment Court has ruled – a decision which could pave the way for them and others in the community to be compensated. Three former workers brought…
Stuff – Former Gloriavale man says being in the community was like living in ‘Alcatraz’
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 09/05/2022 A man who spent three years in Gloriavale alleges he was treated like a prisoner and a slave by the community’s leaders. Nishant Adhikari arrived in New Zealand from Nepal in 2003 with his aunt and uncle who were joining the Christian community…
NZ Herald – Local Focus: Breaking the silence – real talk
: By Delilah Whaitiri – NZ Herald – 04/05/2022 Real Talk brings together people from all walks of life to share unique and challenging life stories. It provides a safe and comfortable environment, inspiring people through the power of storytelling. Constance Ready will be speaking at the next Rotorua Real Talk…
Newshub – WorkSafe issues Gloriavale businesses with nine warnings over safety failures in less than a year
: By Michael Morrah – Newshub – 25/04/2022 WorkSafe issued Gloriavale nine warnings in the space of less than a year over safety failures at its businesses, Newshub can reveal. Newshub has seen copies of investigators’ notebooks in which one said Gloriavale’s residents had “little to no knowledge” of worker rights.…1 News – 61 people involved in alleged offending at Gloriavale – police
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 07/04/2022 Police have identified 61 people as being involved in alleged offending at Gloriavale. Operation Minneapolis was launched in July 2020 after claims of sexual abuse against women and children at the West Coast commune. Police and Oranga Tamariki worked on the investigation, which…
RNZ – Former members renew bid to have charity status of Gloriavale trust revoked
: Radio New Zealand (RNZ) – 02/04/2022 The charities regulator has again been asked to investigate the trust behind the reclusive Gloriavale Christian Community on the South Island’s West Coast. The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust has written to Charities Services asking it to examine the Christian Church Community Trust as a…
NZ Herald – Employment Court grants another group of ex-Gloriavale members urgent hearing
: By Belinda Feek – NZ Herald – 28/03/2022 A second group of former Gloriavale residents have won a bid to have their employment status heard in the Employment Court. A three week hearing is now being organised to determine whether Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor…
Stuff – Why are children working 70 hours a week at Gloriavale not ‘slaves’?
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 13/03/2022 Children who work for long hours at Gloriavale under threat of hell, being hit, starved or kicked out if they refuse are not slaves, a court has heard. Three leavers have lodged a case in the Employment Court against the attorney-general and leaders…
NZ Herald – Covid at Gloriavale: ‘Significant cluster’ inside closed West Coast religious community
: By Kurt Bayer – NZ Herald – 12/03/2022 A “significant cluster” of Covid-19 cases has broken out at the Gloriavale Christian community. It’s understood that members are now self-isolating inside the closed religious community, which has about 600 members on sprawling land at Haupiri, 60km inland from Greymouth on the…
Stuff – Police letter to Gloriavale reveals places where harmful sexual behaviour was rife
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 10/03/2022 A police letter to the Gloriavale Christian Community reveals a list of places where harmful sexual behaviour was taking place – including inside a dinosaur in the dining room. A police inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse at the West Coast community…
Stuff – Gloriavale leader captured on secret recording telling senior member to say he is ‘nothing’ and ‘nobody’
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 07/03/2022 A secret audio recording has captured Gloriavale leader Howard Temple saying workers at the community are “nothing” and “nobody” who need to completely obey everything the leaders say, or leave. The audio, released to Stuff by the Employment Court, was recorded by a…
1 News – Gloriavale gets $2m a year in tax credits, court hears
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 03/03/2022 The Employment Court has heard Gloriavale gets more than $2 million a year in Government tax credits. Charity Christian oversees the administration of the commune’s sharing account, which is used to buy clothing, food and to “care for people”. She said the money…
Stuff – Founder’s son fails to give evidence for Gloriavale in Employment Court
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 02/03/2022 A senior Gloriavale leader will not be giving evidence to an Employment Court, despite filing a brief of evidence. Gloriavale founder Hopeful Christian’s son Mark Christian was due to give evidence on Wednesday, but the defence did not call him without providing any…
Stuff – Gloriavale leaders tried to reduce the workload of ‘single ladies’ preparing meals for 600 people, three times a day
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 01/03/2022 Gloriavale leaders have made a concerted effort to reduce the workload of “single ladies” who prepare meals for nearly 600 people, three times a day. That was the evidence of Gloriavale administrator Serenity Valor, to an Employment Court hearing on Monday. She said…
1 News – Gloriavale member tells court wages donated back to trust
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 01/03/2022 An office administrator at Gloriavale has refuted claims that members are volunteers. Serenity Valor told the Employment Court that workers in the commune’s commercial companies are self-employed contractors, who donate their wages back to the Christian Church Community Trust. “So they’re contracting their…1 News – Little weight given to Gloriavale documents waiving workers’ rights
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 28/02/2022 The Labour Inspectorate concedes it gave little weight to the documents Gloriavale members sign waiving workers’ rights. Senior labour inspector Hannah Crampton appeared before the Employment Court on Monday, where she was questioned about her investigation into long working hours at the commune.…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale: ‘Treated like slaves’ – Teenager wants justice for unpaid under-age workers
: By Carolyne Meng-Yee – NZ Herald – 26/02/2022 At Gloriavale, Levi Courage felt that he had no freedom, no money, no way out. On a rainy night last June Courage finished work and told his parents, Aaron and Joy, he was leaving Gloriavale – for good. He took a change…
Stuff – Gloriavale – a community of devoted volunteers or a colony of slaves?
: By Joanne Naish and Amber Allott – Stuff – 26/02/2022 Have New Zealand authorities been turning a blind eye to generations of slavery at Gloriavale or are its members willing volunteers? And why is the government pouring millions of dollars into this remote community? Joanne Naish and Amber Allott report.…
Stuff – Gloriavale leaders reject slavery claims, say members work ‘willingly’ and ‘lovingly’
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 24/02/2022 A leader of Gloriavale has defended the community’s way of life and rejected claims of slavery. Peter Righteous, a senior leader or servant, said people at Gloriavale willingly submitted themselves to the Overseeing Shepherd and shepherds and worked for the community, which lived…
1 News – Former Gloriavale members want stories heard to drive change
: By 1 News – Breakfast – 24/02/2022 A former Gloriavale resident says ex-members have been taking their stories to court because they want them heard and legally acknowledged. Lilia Tarawa, author of book Daughter of Gloriavale who went viral for a TEDx Talk on the West Coast commune, told Breakfast…
1 News – Senior Gloriavale leader says no one ‘coerced’ to join
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 24/02/2022 A senior leader in the Christian commune of Gloriavale claims members “choose to live a sharing, communal life” in the hope of “perfect obedience to God”. Peter Righteous appeared before the Employment Court on Thursday, which is considering whether Gloriavale residents are employees…
Stuff – Dark side of Gloriavale ‘needs to be brought to the light’, long-term resident says
: By Amber Allott – Stuff – 23/02/2022 Forty of Sharon Ready’s 71 grandchildren still live in the isolated West Coast Christian community of Gloriavale. Ready still calls it home herself, and has since its inception in North Canterbury, in 1969. But now she has tearfully spoken out against it at…1 News – Former Gloriavale member calls it a ‘brutal control regime’
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 23/02/2022 A former Gloriavale member struggled to hold back tears on Wednesday as he described the West Coast commune as a “brutal control regime”. Faithful Disciple is giving evidence in an Employment Court case to decide whether Gloriavale residents are volunteers or not. Last…
1 News – Gloriavale lawyer says ‘stark choice’ but members still choose lifestyle
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 23/02/2022 Former Gloriavale members are being questioned about their so-called “choice” to stay in the West Coast commune. The Employment Court is considering whether those living at Gloriavale are employees or volunteers. The Labour Inspectorate ruled out investigating claims of long working hours last…
Stuff – Gloriavale kids made to work days without sleep, one chained to steel post, court told
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 22/02/2022 A child was chained to a steel post at Gloriavale because his father did not know how to look after him, a former community leader has told a court. Zion Pilgrim was a senior leader, or servant, at Gloriavale until he left in…
Stuff – Sent to work at age 6, beaten and starved: One boy’s experience of ‘volunteering’ at Gloriavale
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 21/02/2022 A former Gloriavale member has told a court he was beaten with a shovel and starved for not working fast enough when he was a child in the community. Hosea Courage is one of a group of former Gloriavale members fighting against the…
Newshub – Former Gloriavale member tells court he was hit, denied food for not working fast enough as a 6yo
: By Michael Morrah – Newshub – 21/02/2022 A former member of Gloriavale on the West Coast says he was hit with a shovel handle and denied food for not working fast enough as a six-year-old. The testimony was revealed as part of an employment court case examining whether those at…
1News – Are Gloriavale residents employees or volunteers?
: By Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 21/02/2022 The Employment Court is considering whether those living at the West Coast commune of Gloriavale are workers or volunteers. Three former residents are challenging a Labour Inspectorate ruling that found they are volunteers and were, therefore, not entitled to pay or employment…
NZ Herald – Workers or volunteers? Gloriavale leavers take employment fight to cour
: By Anna Leask – NZ Herald – 21/02/2022 A group of ex-Gloriavale members have taken the secretive Christian community to court in a bid to determine their employment status while they lived there and ascertain whether they were wrongly exploited as workers. Leavers Hosea Courage, Daniel Pilgrim and Levi Courage…
Stuff – Subjects of Gloriavale documentaries leave religious community
: By Rachael Comer – Stuff – 19/02/2022 A couple who featured prominently in television documentaries depicting life in Gloriavale have left the secretive religious community. Now members of the public are rallying to support Paul and Pearl Valor as they adjust to life on the outside, settling in South Canterbury,…
Stuff – Call for driving tests to be an essential service
: By Tom Hunt – Stuff – 15/02/2022 The Government is being called on to join most other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in making driver licence testing an essential service. The call is being led by The Driving Change Network, which aims to make driving education and…
RNZ Checkpoint – Gloriavale escapees among unvaccinated denied driving tests
: RNZ Checkpoint – By Nick Truebridge – 15/02/2022 Recent Gloriavale escapees are among the many New Zealanders banned from practical driving tests because they haven’t been vaccinated. It comes as the government continues to face pressure on classing practical driving tests an essential service. It’s so far refused to budge…
NZ Stuff on TikTok – How Gloriavale started: Part 1
: NZ Stuff on TikTok – How Gloriavale started: Part 1 ( Lets Talk About Sects Sarah Steel 13/04/2021) Listen / Watch here: https://www.tiktok.com/foryou?_d=secCgwIARCbDRjEFSADKAESPgo8liTnvXFDlKZaebni%2FPjqp1SyXT%2BOc3tscADDQmeovW4A0WCUXXc74LZzfNTy5k%2BSkegO%2BC5SQgdpFNdcGgA%3D&_r=1&is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7060396586865560833&language=en&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAvZAQu-6_4Ufzaub41bQ9WlEBMUonhsOOSy6JvbhEucM4byR2AbmOMxReHalfc3Ru&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=7060396586865560833&share_link_id=897173dc-8137-41fb-a45b-2d806f0291a5&source=h5_m×tamp=1644006243&u_code=deeh9d8909343l&user_id=6873338291514033157&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=android&utm_source=messenger#/@nzstuff/video/7060396586865560833 Or search for Podcast – Sarah Steel – Lets Talk About Sects – Gloriavale Part 1 and 2 …
RNZ – Covid-19: Vaccination rates in area that is home to Gloriavale community improves
: By RNZ (Radio New Zealand) – 08/02/2022 One of New Zealand’s most remote and isolated communities has now reached 90 percent of its population over 12 getting at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Lake Brunner, on the West Coast, is home to Gloriavale Christian Community and was once…
YouTube – Illuminaughty: The New Zealand Cult That Preyed on Children: Gloriavale | Prism of the Past
: You Tube – Illuminaughti PLEASE NOTE: There are many inaccuracies in this podcast – including the following: Haupiri Valley (not Haupiori) Neville Cooper did not set up Gloriavale in 1969 – he established Springbank community first, then when the community moved to Haupiri Valley over a period of years in…
Stuff – Gloriavale teacher convicted of assaulting children hopes to teach again
: By Joanne Naish, Stuff – 14/01/2022 A man working as a teacher at Gloriavale Christian Community who assaulted and verbally abused children in his care hopes to teach there again. Vigilant Standtrue, 39, pleaded guilty in the Greymouth District Court in November to three charges of assaulting three boys aged…
Stuff – Gloriavale teacher pleads guilty to assaulting children
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 23/11/2012 A man working as an unregistered teacher at Gloriavale Christian Community assaulted and verbally abused children in his care Vigilant Standtrue, 39, pleaded guilty in the Greymouth District Court last week to three representative charges of assaulting three boys aged between 9 and…NZ Herald – Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Gloriavale teachers get vaccine shots
: By Laura Mills – Star News – 20/11/2021 Additional Reporting by Dubby Henry NZ Herald Gloriavale Christian Community school teachers have joined the community’s midwives and accepted their Covid vaccinations. Under the Government mandate, the teachers would have had to have been stood down yesterday if they were not vaccinated.…
Stuff – Covid-19: Gloriavale’s area shows biggest jump in vaccination rates in the country
: By Joanna Naish & Steven Walton- Stuff – 19/11/2021 The area that includes the Gloriavale Christian Community has had the biggest percentage point jump for first doses of any suburb nationwide. Just 343 of Lake Brunner’s eligible population of 593 people had rolled up their sleeve for the first jab…Stuff – Gloriavale teachers and midwives get first dose of Covid-19 vaccine
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 17/11/2021 Teachers and midwives at Gloriavale Christian Community have been vaccinated against Covid-19. The move came as the leaders of the church, which was traditionally against vaccinations, began to actively encourage their members to get vaccinated. The community of between 500 and 600 people…
Stuff – West Coast’s Covid-19 vaccination rate still lowest in South Island despite campaign
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 08/11/2021 West Coast MP Damien O’Connor has visited the isolated Gloriavale Christian Community in a bid to help boost its Covid-19 vaccination rate. The Labour MP visited the region to encourage locals to get vaccinated as the West Coast District Health Board and regional…ODT – Get vaccinated, Gloriavale community told
: By Laura Mills – ODT – 06/11/2021 West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O’Connor has delivered a firm and clear message to Gloriavale: all eligible New Zealanders need to get vaccinated to beat Covid-19. Mr O’Connor was on a whirlwind tour of the Coast on Thursday to try and boost vaccination rates.…RNZ – Special zone for Gloriavale on the cards
: By Laura Mills – RNZ – 06/11/2021 The Gloriavale Christian Community is set to have more relaxed planning rules and its own sub-zone in the new combined district plan for the West Coast. The community of more than 600 people is located on land zoned rural at Lake Haupiri, east…
Newstalk ZB – Churches in difficult position if vaccine exemption requests denied
: Newstalk ZB – Heather Du Plessis-Alan with Peter Lineham – 04/11/2021 [Audio can be listened to from article link] Applications for religious exemptions to vaccine mandates are yet to be made but Gloriavale may be the first. A source close to the community says Gloriavale may be asking the Government…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale Christian community faces education conundrum over anti-vaccine stance
: By Georgia O’Connor-Harding – NZ Herald – 04/11/2021 Christian community Gloriavale will likely be forced to turn its back on its long-held anti-vaccine beliefs. A source close to the community has said it is understood they are considering asking the Government for an exemption for the vaccine mandate for its…Stuff – ‘The Lord is helping me’: Gloriavale teacher facing assault charges declines having lawyer
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 20/10/2021 A Gloriavale teacher accused of allegedly assaulting four children has once again declined to have a lawyer representing him saying “the Lord is helping me”. Vigilant Standtrue, 39, appeared in the Greymouth District Court on Wednesday on seven charges of assaulting children between…Stuff – Gloriavale area’s vaccination rates among lowest in South Island
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 08/10/82021 The leader of the Gloriavale Christian Community has confirmed vaccination against Covid-19 is open to any member of the church. According to the Ministry of Health, the Lake Brunner area, which contains the isolated Christian community, has the lowest vaccination rates in the…Stuff – Gloriavale leaders give community members option to have Covid-19 vaccine
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 01/10/2021 The leaders of the isolated Gloriavale Christian Community have told its members they can choose to be vaccinated against Covid-19. This is a U-turn from its past anti-vaccination stance. The community has previously blocked the West Coast from hitting immunisation targets as its…NZ Herald – West Coast community coming to aid of former Gloriavale family after fire
: NZ Herald – 29/09/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] Funds raised for a former Gloriavale family who lost everything in a house fire will be used to set them up in a new home. The family of eight was staying at a farmhouse at Inchbonnie, near Lake Brunner…
Stuff – ‘Inundated with kindness and clothing’ for Gloriavale leavers
: By Esther Ashby-Coventry – Stuff – 28/09/2021 The “amazing’’ generosity of community members has left one South Canterbury charity inundated with donations which they will sell off to raise more money. The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust will hold a clothing sale for the public on Tuesday and Thursday with proceeds…
Stuff – Former Gloriavale family loses everything in house fire
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 28/09/2021 A former Gloriavale family who had left the isolated Christian community just a few months ago, has lost all their possessions in a house fire. The family of eight escaped unharmed, but the house was completely destroyed after it was hit by lightning…
Stuff – Scale of harmful sexual behaviour at Gloriavale revealed as man escapes conviction
: By Joanne Naish and Amber Allott – Stuff – 17/09/2021 Court documents have revealed more than 60 young people have been involved in harmful sexual behaviour at the Gloriavale Christian Community, as a former member avoided conviction in court. A police inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse at the…
Stuff – Young Gloriavale leavers face another hurdle – in education
: By Esther Ashby-Coventry – Stuff – 17/09/2021 Some schools are being provided with extra Ministry of Education support to resettle former Gloriavale students into their new classes. Timaru-based Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust manager Liz Gregory said she was familiar with the difficulties of children, who have left the religious West…
Stuff – Gloriavale teacher on child assault charges declines legal representation
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 15/09/2021 A Gloriavale teacher accused of assaulting four children aged between 9 and 11 has not yet pleaded to the charges. Vigilant Standtrue, 39, appeared in the Greymouth District Court on Wednesday on seven charges of assaulting children. Judge Gerard Lynch asked Standtrue if…ODT – Gloriavale unlikely to support vaccination
: By Laura Mills, ODT – 27/08/2021 As health authorities try to increase Covid-19 vaccination rates on the West Coast, at least 600 people will miss out — at Gloriavale Christian Community. The community did not respond to a query but has refused other vaccines in the past and the Greymouth…Stuff – Gloriavale teacher allegedly assaulted four children aged 9 to 11
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 17/08/2021 A Gloriavale teacher has been charged after allegedly assaulting four children in as many years. Vigilant Standtrue is facing seven charges of assaulting children. He made his first appearance in the Greymouth District Court on August 11 and did not seek name suppression.…Stuff – Investigation reveals former Gloriavale members were pressured to sign legal documents
: By Nadine Porter – Stuff – 12/08/2021 Former residents of Gloriavale have revealed there were mass signings of a “commitment document” under duress, during dinner, with no time to read or understand what they were signing. In a Labour Inspectorate report released to Stuff, leavers of the secretive West Coast…Stuff – Police, Oranga Tamariki and Ministry of Education investigating Gloriavale School
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 11/08/2021 The school at the West Coast’s Gloriavale Christian Community is at the centre of an investigation into child safety. Police, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education are investigating allegations students have been mistreated. It is understood some staff have been stood down…NZ Herald – Gloriavale School focus of police investigation into Christian community
: By Devon Bolger – NZ Herald 11/08/2021 A police inquiry into physical and sexual abuse at Gloriavale is now focusing on the on-site school. The Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki have confirmed an investigation is under way. A spokesperson for the ministry said they are in contact with the…
TVNZ 1 News – Gloriavale not safe for children, Leavers’ Trust says
: 1 News – 11/08/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link – Breakfast TVNZ] Gloriavale isn’t a safe place for children, according to a group that supports people who leave the reclusive Christian community. It comes as 1 NEWS revealed this morning Gloriavale Christian School is the focus of a…
TVNZ 1 News – Claims Gloriavale members forced to sign documents waiving legal advice
: 1 News – Ryan Boswell – 10/08/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] Former Gloriavale members claim they’ve been forced to sign documents not knowing what they were. Isaac Pilgrim was born at the West Coast commune, and fled to Timaru with his 10 children in 2018. He told…
Newshub – Gloriavale leaders allowed abuse to flourish as former resident admits sexual offences against children – Leavers’ Support Trust
: Michael Morrah – Newshub – 04/08/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link]. The head of a group helping people who leave Gloriavale says a former resident admitting he sexually offended against children is “incredibly tragic” and believes Gloriavale’s leaders have allowed abuse to flourish. A 55-year-old man, who has…
TVNZ 1 News – Former Gloriavale man pleads guilty to sex offending against children
: Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 04/08/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link]. A former Gloriavale man has pleaded guilty to 11 charges of sexual offending against children. The man, who has name suppression, appeared via video link from Christchurch at the Greymouth District Court today. He is facing…
TVNZ 1 News – Former Gloriavale members consider court action
: Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 26/07/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] The Council of Trade Unions is questioning why those living at Gloriavale aren’t being given the same employment rights as others. The Labour Inspectorate has found no employment relationship exists within the West Coast commune, after…NZ Herald – Labour Inspectorate rules Gloriavale members cannot be considered employees
: Kurt Bayer – NZ Herald – 23/074/2021 The Labour Inspectorate has found that the members of the Gloriavale Christian community on the South Island’s West Coast cannot currently be considered employees under New Zealand legislation. It means that the Inspectorate has no jurisdiction and “will not undertake further investigation or…TVNZ 1 News – Investigation into Gloriavale working conditions dropped
: 1 News – 23/07/2021 No further investigation or enforcement action is being taken into allegations of Gloriavale members being overworked after the Labour Inspectorate has found community members were not considered employees under New Zealand legislation. National Manager Labour Inspectorate Stu Lumsden conducted an inquiry into the employment status of…
Newshub – Claims of exploitation at Gloriavale go unheard as MBIE says it’s out of their jurisdiction
: Kaysha Brownlie – Newshub – 23/07/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link]. A group of former followers believes it and current Gloriavale residents have been exploited – but the Ministry says other agencies will have to investigate. Gloriavale members are hard at work – but they’re not employees, according…
Stuff – Disappointment at Labour Inspectorate ruling that Gloriavale’s volunteer workforce are not employees
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 23/07/2021 An investigation by the Labour Inspectorate has concluded members of the Gloriavale Christian community cannot be classed as employees. In a statement released on Friday, the inspectorate said the finding meant it had no jurisdiction over the West Coast community and would take…
Stuff – Former Gloriavale man charged with sexual offending against 10 people
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 14/07/2021 A former Gloriavale man is facing 38 charges of sexual offending against at least nine children – some under the age of 12. The charges against the man include the rape, sexual violation and indecent assault of nine boys and girls at the…
RNZ – Leaving Gloriavale
: The Detail – RNZ – 30/06/2021 [Podcast access via article link] Increasing numbers of people are leaving Gloriavale, the West Coast Christian community that’s been around for more than 50 years. It’s been investigated by police, Charity Services, Oranga Tamariki and WorkSafe. Former members are taking a civil suit against…
TVNZ 1 News – Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust pleads for public’s help for those leaving commune
: By Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 23/06/2021 The Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust has launched the Emergency Welfare Appeal to help people reintegrate into the outside world. A video has been created featuring over 25 children whose families have been helped by the trust. See Givealittle video here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/gloriavale-leavers-emergency-appeal Spokeswoman…
Stuff – Urgent appeal to help more families leaving Gloriavale
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 23/06/2021 [Video link to Givealittle Gloriavale Leavers Emergency Appeal: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/gloriavale-leavers-emergency-appeal Increasing numbers of people are leaving Gloriavale and urgently need support, a charity for leavers says. The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust says urgent support is needed for dozens of members leaving the reclusive West…
TVNZ 1 News – Running of Gloriavale to be reviewed by Public Trust for next 18 months
: 1 News – 10/06/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] The running of the religious community of Gloriavale on the West Coast will be reviewed by the Public Trust for the next 18 months. That’s the outcome of a judicial settlement conference between the trust that runs the secretive…NZ Herald – Gloriavale court action brought by ex-member John Ready reaches settlement
: By Kurt Bayer – NZ Herald – 10/06/2021 The parties to the High Court proceedings brought by former Gloriavale member John Ready against the Christian Community Charitable Trust and others have reached a settlement. The Public Trust was last month invited to join a judicial settlement conference in Greymouth “at…
Stuff – Gloriavale company director says policing payment of honey factory workers is not his responsibility
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 30/05/2021 A West Coast businessman running a honey company owned by the Gloriavale Christian Community says payment of honey factory workers is none of his business. But moves to enact anti-slavery legislation to prevent forced labour and worker exploitation could mean companies, especially if…
NZ Herald – A Moment In Crime: Gloriavale – smocks, secrecy and sex offenders
: By Anna Leask – NZ Herald – 25/05/2021 In the late 1960s, an Australian preacher made his way to New Zealand. He had a vision to set up a Christian community where everyone shared everything and cared for everyone – where they shunned the “ungodliness” of the modern world and…Stuff – Gloriavale leavers ‘incensed’ by leaders’ claims about freedoms at religious community
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 20/05/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] Former Gloriavale members say claims made by leaders in documents just released by the High Court do not reflect their experience of life inside the secluded West Coast community. Some former Gloriavale members have asked the…
TVNZ 1 News – Statement of claim made public for first time as civil case taken against Gloriavale
: By Ryan Boswell – 1News – 19/05/2021 A document at the heart of the secretive community of Gloriavale is now at the centre of a legal stoush. Former Gloriavale member John Ready and another plaintiff, whose named is suppressed, have filed civil proceedings at the High Court in Greymouth. The…
RNZ / Newshub – Former Gloriavale members push for community’s leaders to be removed and replaced
: By Tim Brown – RNZ 19/05/2021 Former Gloriavale members want the church’s leadership removed and the Public Trust appointed in its place. John Ready and other unnamed plaintiffs are taking a civil suit against The Christian Church Community Trust, commonly known as Gloriavale, as well as trustees and shareholders associated…RNZ – Gloriavale documents give insight into community life
: By Tim Brown – RNZ (Radio New Zealand) – 19/05/2021 Recently released court documents provide a candid insight into life and religious beliefs at Gloriavale. John Ready and other unnamed plaintiffs are taking a civil suit against The Christian Church Community Trust, commonly known as Gloriavale, as well as trustees…
Stuff – The court battle between Gloriavale leavers and leaders revealed
: By Liz McDonald and Joanne Naish – Stuff – 19/05/2021 Gloriavale leaders are defending claims they have breached their duties to members of the Gloriavale community as they fight a landmark civil action taken out by former members. The plaintiffs have asked the High Court to give control of the…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale: Leadership denies breaching its duties to members, reveals remarkable insights into community
: By Kurt Bayer – NZ Herald – 19/05/2021 The infamous Gloriavale document where newcomers sign their lives over to the secretive religious sect has been revealed as a key part of a potentially-landmark legal action against the Christian community’s leadership. The original document, “A Declaration of Commitment to Jesus Christ…
Stuff – YouTuber’s weekend in Gloriavale surpassed his ‘wildest imagination’
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 18/05/2021 [Video can be viewed in article] A YouTuber who spent a weekend at the isolated West Coast religious community of Gloriavale says the experience surpassed his “wildest imagination”. Caleb Jack, an online “content creator” and camera operator, said he was intrigued by the…Stuff – Former Gloriavale man pleads guilty to indecent assault of boys
: By Joanne Naish – Stuff – 12/05/2021 A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to doing an indecent act on three boys at the Gloriavale Christian Community. A police inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse at the West Coast community has been under way since July. Police, supported by Oranga…Stuff – 2002: A visit to Gloriavale
: Keith Matthews – Stuff – 11/05/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] “Quietly but steadily the walls of Gloriavale have grown in 11 years, transforming a remote cow paddock above Lake Haupiri into a modern three-storey complex that stands like a temple on the bottom slopes of the Southern…
RNZ – Gloriavale investigation interviews conclude, but ‘further enquiries to come’
: RNZ (Radio New Zealand) – 07/05/2021 Four days of interviews at Gloriavale by police and Oranga Tamariki have concluded, but there are further enquiries to come. The two agencies had been at the secluded West Coast community since Monday, as part of an investigation into the group. In a police…
RNZ – Oranga Tamariki and police presence at Gloriavale welcomed
: RNZ (Radio New Zealand) – 05/05/2021 [Audio in article link] A support group for people who choose to leave the Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast is relieved by the latest action by police and Oranga Tamariki. The two agencies have been at the West Coast community since Monday,…
Stuff – What now for Gloriavale Christian Community’s $41m business empire?
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 18/04/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] Running an airline, farming close to 7000 cows and deer, oil and gas exploration, hosting wealthy Americans on hunting expeditions, and selling sphagnum moss to Disneyland. The Gloriavale Christian Community’s business empire has certainly been diverse,…
Stuff – Moo Chews ditches Gloriavale factory and seeks new manufacturer
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 12/04/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] The Gloriavale Christian Community has lost a contract to make Moo Chews snacks for children following questions about its employment practices. Moo Chews NZ announced on its Facebook page that it was looking for a new…
Stuff – Products made at Gloriavale keep their FernMark export licences for now
: By Amanda Cropp – Stuff – 24/03/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] Two brands linked to the Gloriavale Christian Community have FernMark export licences but their government endorsement could be reviewed. The FernMark symbol, used to promote New Zealand products overseas, is issued by government agency NZ Story…
Stuff – Gloriavale leaver denies sexually abusing children
: By Joanne Holden – Stuff – 23/03/2021 A former Gloriavale resident has denied sexually abusing multiple children in the isolated Christian community as a youth. The man, who has interim name suppression, pleaded not guilty… Read more here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/124625983/gloriavale-leaver-denies-sexually-abusing-children…Grey Star – Gloriavale report awaited
: By Laura Mills – Grey Star – 22/03/2021 A new wide ranging independent report into Gloriavale is the community’s chance to save itself as the closeted Christian community comes under mounting pressure. Read more here: https://digital.greystar.co.nz/greymouth-star/march-22nd-2021/flipbook/0/ NOTE: Only those who have a subscription will be able to access this article.…
Newshub – Family leaves Gloriavale after being made to feel like ‘troublemakers’ for reporting attempted molestation of their sons
: By Michael Morrah – 22/03/2021 The Children’s Commissioner says he has “serious concerns” about the safety of the 400 children living at the Gloriavale Christian community on the West Coast. Last month Newshub reported claims that Gloriavale leaders repeatedly refused to involve police in allegations of child sex abuse. Now…
TVNZ 1 News – Former Gloriavale leader doubts unfettered investigation will spark change
: By Ryan Boswell One News – 22/03/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] A Gloriavale leader forced out of the secretive West Coast community doubts an unfettered investigation will spark change. Secretive Gloriavale community opens its doors to independent inquiry after sexual abuse allegations. Following allegations of sexual abuse…
TVNZ 1 News – Police have investigated physical and sexual abuse allegations at Gloriavale 17 times
: By Ryan Boswell – 1 News – 22/03/20201 [Video can be viewed in article link] There have been 17 police investigations into physical and sexual abuse at Gloriavale since it was founded in 1969. Figures released to 1 NEWS under the Official Information Act show the first offence is alleged…
Stuff – Moo Chews kids’ snack pulled after link with Gloriavale revealed
: By Amanda Cropp – 20/03/2021 Moo Chews kids snacks made by the Gloriavale Christian Community have been dropped by two distributors because of “reputational” issues. The Moo Chews website listed more than 100 stockists nationally for the milk bites which are marketed as a health treat for children, but two…
Stuff – Gloriavale: The daily life, the dark side and uncertain future explained
: By Amy Wright – 20/03/2021 EXPLAINER: A closed religious group has been thriving since the 1960s, despite many controversies and the death of its founder. As unhappy members leave, and scrutiny from the outside world intensifies, Amy Wright takes a closer look at Gloriavale. Virginia Courage had a wonderful childhood.…Stuff – Lawyers heading south for Gloriavale, the Christian community already under double-investigation
: By Tom Hunt – Stuff – 04/03/2021 [Video can be viewed in article link] Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust manager Liz Gregory said on Thursday she had received a commitment from the Royal Commission into abuse and faith-based care that it was sending lawyers to Canterbury in April to talk to…Stuff – Gloriavale trust’s assets and profits up on last year
: By Joanne Naish, Stuff – 03/03/2021 Gloriavale has reported a profit of almost $2.8 million and assets of $41m in its annual return to Charities Services. Gloriavale is a religious community based at Lake Haupiri on the West Coast. It has come under fire in recent years from former members…
NZ Herald (Premium) – Connie’s story: Gloriavale leaver who reported father to police opens home to him
: By Alana Eriksen, NZ Herald – 20/02/2021 [NZ Herald Premium – pay to view content] She escaped from Gloriavale and told police of the years of physical abuse she and her younger sister endured at the hands of their father. But when it was his time to get out, she….…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale mum of 13 Sharon Ready makes new life as teacher in Greymouth after 50 years
: By Alanah Eriksen, NZ Herald – 20/02/2021 After 50 years inside Gloriavale, one of the community’s longest-serving members has her first job on the outside and is attempting to remove the leadership while still living within the compound. At age 64, mother of 13 Sharon Ready has challenged the norm…
Stuff – Trio charged as investigation into alleged child abuse at Gloriavale continues
: By Joanne Naish 12/02/2021 Two men and one boy have been charged as a result of an ongoing police investigation into child abuse at the Gloriavale Christian Community. A police inquiry into allegations of abuse at the West Coast community has been under way since July. Police, supported by Oranga…
Stuff – Lawyer says legal proceedings seek to change culture that ‘breeds sexual predators’ at Gloriavale
: A lawyer representing a former Gloriavale member in a civil case against the West Coast Christian community has said the proceedings are aimed at changing a culture where people are subjected to “slave labour” and sexual predators and victims are bred. Brian Henry made the comments during a procedural hearing…
ODT – Former Gloriavale member launches civil court action against leadership trust
: A former Gloriavale member who has launched a potentially landmark legal case to try and remove the leadership of the West Coast religious commune has got his first day in court today. Ex-member John Ready, who was banished from Gloriavale more than three years ago and who still has family…
Stuff – ‘It could have killed me’: Gloriavale leaver struck by tree branch is struggling to support large family
: By Joanne Holden – 02/02/2021 [Video from RNZ can be viewed in article link] A former Gloriavale man working to support his pregnant wife and 12 children after the family was pushed out of the isolated community about four months ago, suffered a setback when a tree branch crushed his…
NZ Herald (Premium) – Former Gloriavale Member: ‘Sex was talked about at every meal’
: By Kurt Bayer – 23/12/2020 NZHerald Premium – Full content can be viewed through paid NZHerald Premium GRAPHIC WARNING: SOME CONTENT MAY OFFEND Linda Feary was a lost solo mum when she found salvation in the form of the Gloriavale religious community in 1975. But through the 1980s, she claims…
RNZ – Teaching Council investigates former Gloriavale school principal
: Radio New Zealand – 22/12/2020 The Teaching Council is investigating a former school principal at Gloriavale after allegations were made that he failed to keep children safe. The Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust complained about Faithful Pilgrim to the council in August. Trust spokesperson Liz Gregory said Faithful Pilgrim knew of…Stuff – Gloriavale school not a ‘physically and emotionally safe place’ for students
: By Joanne Naish – 22/12/2020 The Education Review Office (ERO) has criticised the school at Gloriavale Christian Community for not providing a physically and emotionally safe place for students. A report, written in June but released more recently, said inspectors found the West Coast school did not have regularly reviewed…
NZ Herald – Gloriavale principal stood down, investigation into claims he failed to keep children safe from abuse
: By NZ Herald – 22/12/2020 The principal of Gloriavale school has been stood down while the New Zealand Teaching Council investigates claims he failed to keep children safe from abuse by staff and other pupils. Faithful Pilgrim did not secure the safety and wellbeing of learners, the Gloriavale Leavers Support…
NZ Herald – Former Gloriavale member Peter Faithful found after going missing for a week
: By Kurt Bayer – 21/12/2020 An ex-Gloriavale member reported missing by a leavers support group has been found safe after a week-long disappearance. Peter Faithful lived at the remote religious community of Gloriavale on the West Coast for over 40 years. Read more here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-gloriavale-member-peter-faithful-found-after-going-missing-for-a-week/ILZJ2AK5PQOTNUMSPIA4ROITMU/…
Stuff – NZ Teaching Council investigating Gloriavale principal over concerns he failed to ensure safety of children
: By Steven Walton and Jonny Edwards – 21/12/2020 The New Zealand Teaching Council is investigating Gloriavale’s former school principal Faithful Pilgrim after receiving allegations he failed to keep pupils safe. Pilgrim has stood down from his position over claims he had failed to act over a teacher abusing a child,…
Newshub – Gloriavale principal didn’t remove teacher despite sexual offending claims, NZ Teaching Council investigating
: By Michael Morrah – 21/12/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. The New Zealand Teaching Council is investigating the principal at Gloriavale over allegations he failed to keep students safe. A teacher at the school was convicted of sexual offending against a nine-year-old girl last year. He wasn’t stopped…Stuff – Concerns mount for ex-Gloriavale man missing since Saturday
: By Amber Allott – 17/12/2020 Concerns are mounting for a former Gloriavale resident of more than 40 years who has been missing for five days. Peter Faithful, 62, has been missing from his home in the Christchurch suburb of Bishopdale since Saturday morning. The family had serious concerns about his…
Stuff – Gloriavale accused of exploiting workers; MBIE says it can’t intervene
: By Joanne Naish – 14/11/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Virginia Courage left school at 15 and, for 25 years, worked long hours in commercial-scale kitchens, laundries and child care centres. She started at 6am and finished as late as 8pm, cooking or cleaning for 600 people. She…
Stuff – Serious incidents at Gloriavale reported to WorkSafe; no action taken
: By Joanne Naish – 09/11/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Gloriavale workers have suffered lost fingers, falls, chemical burns and been overcome with toxic fumes in a series of incidents since 2016. However, the Government’s workplace safety watchdog ruled the incidents did not meet the “minimum threshold for…
Stuff – Current and former Gloriavale members asked to contact court-appointed lawyers
: By Joanne Naish – 28/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. The High Court has appointed lawyers to hear the stories of former and current Gloriavale members after an ex-resident launched civil proceedings against the community’s leaders. About 180 people have left the West Coast Christian community in recent…
More FM – Lana has a fascinating chat with an ex-Gloriavale member
: More FM The Breakfast Club – 20/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Lana sat down with Hannah, a 25 year old girl who left Gloriavale 5 years ago along with her family, for a fascinating chat. Check out the eye opening interview. Watch here: https://www.morefm.co.nz/home/shows/the-breakfast-club/2020/10/lana-has-a-fascinating-chat-with-an-ex-gloriavale-member.html?fbclid=IwAR238q-7xnUyz0TI48lRK6SoJLLWOfhjkTEpvphHPVLiNfoPeIYF3pWeSJ0…
Stuff – The fine line between a genuine volunteer and exploitation
: Susan Hornsby-Geluk – 14 /10/2020 OPINION: Volunteers are the lifeblood of communities, but there can be a fine line between genuine volunteers and the exploitation of vulnerable people. This has been highlighted by the recent controversy surrounding the isolated West Coast Christian community, Gloriavale. Members who have fled from the…
Monday Night Live – Unmasking the Gloriavale Cult – Liz Gregory
Brendan Malone – Monday Night Live – 12/10/2020 Join me for my conversation with Liz Gregory, Manager of the Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust. We’ll be talking about the hardships endured by those living inside the Gloriavale commune, why she considers it to be a cult, and what she and herRNZ – Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust want urgent action from govt
: Sally Murphy – 07/10/2020 [Audio can be accessed through link]. Former members of the Gloriavale community made themselves heard outside yesterday’s leaders debate, manager of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, Liz Gregory urging the government to launch an inquiry into the secretive religious group. They’re frustrated by what that say…
Chris Lynch Media – Ex-Gloriavale members to hold protest outside James Hay Theatre
: Chris Lynch Media – 06/10/2020 Former Gloriavale members will hold a demonstration outside the James Hay Theatre tonight which is the venue of the Leader’s debate between Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins. They’re calling on Ardern to announce an immediate wide-ranging inquiry into Gloriavale amidst “concerns of modern-day slavery, exploitation,…
RNZ – Gloriavale leavers petition government, plan to protest
: By Sally Murphy – 06/10/2020 There are growing calls for a wide-ranging government inquiry into the West Coast Christian community Gloriavale. The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust has started a petition this week urging the government to take action. They’re also protesting outside The Press’ Leaders Debate in Christchurch tonight. They…
Stuff – Gloriavale leavers launch petition and protests to get Government inquiry
: By: Joanne Carroll and Jonathan Guildford – 06/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. A father of 10 who fled Gloriavale two years ago says the Government needs to launch a full independent inquiry into the community that is putting its members into “slavery”. Isaac Pilgrim, 39, was born…
RNZ – ‘These people are voiceless, we’re here to be a voice’ – ex-Gloriavale member urges inquiry
: Radio New Zealand – 06/10/2020 [Video and Audio can be accessed in article link]. Former Gloriavale members are picketing the Election 2020 leaders debate in Christchurch, urging the prime minister to launch an inquiry into the secretive religious sect on the South Island’s West Coast. They say they are frustrated…
NZ Herald – Election 2020: Ex-Gloriavale residents to protest outside leaders’ debate
: By Laura Mills – 06/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust is planning a demonstration outside The Press Election Debate in Christchurch on Tuesday night, again aimed at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The trust, made up of ex-Gloriavale residents and their supporters, is calling…
TVNZ 1 News – Former Gloriavale members want larger inquiry into sexual abuse allegations
: 1 News – 05/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Former members say sexual abuse is rife at the controversial Christian community of Gloriavale. It comes as sexual abuse charges have been laid, but the victims say much of it gets ignored. “I’ll be careful what I say here…TVNZ 1 News – Former Gloriavale residents describe exhausting work conditions
: 1 News – 04/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Former Gloriavale residents have described exhausting work conditions at the isolated community, as the Government encourages others to come forward with any complaints. It comes after a recent WorkSafe investigation found no evidence of mismanagement at the site. But…
Stuff – Second senior member leaves secretive sect Gloriavale over management concerns
: By Sam Sherwood and Joanne Carroll – 02/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. A second senior member of secretive religious sect Gloriavale has left the community over concerns with how it is being run. Selwyn Love, the father of Dove Love who appeared in the TVNZ documentary on…NZ Herald – Gloriavale: WorkSafe tells controversial Christian community to make workplace changes
: By Cherie Howie – 02/10/2020 WorkSafe have told Gloriavale to improve work practices, but found no evidence to support allegations the religious community isn’t managing the risk of fatigue in the workplace. The site visit follows reports of 23-hour work shifts for members, and threats by church leaders. Read more…Stuff – No action to be taken against Gloriavale by Labour Inspectorate as workers deemed volunteers
: By Michael Haywood – 01/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. The Labour Inspectorate will not take action against the Gloriavale Christian Community. The inspectorate and WorkSafe visited the isolated community on the West Coast of the South Island this week over claims some members had been forced to…
Newshub – Andrew Little orders major review into Gloriavale practices after seeing critical 2017 report
: By Michael Morrah – 01/10/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. A major review into practices at the Gloriavale religious community has been ordered by the Minister of Workplace Relations. A Government report, obtained by Newshub under the Official Information Act, talks of “oppressive psychological practices”, possible exploitation and…Stuff – WorkSafe and Labour Inspectorate visit Gloriavale over illegal work claims
: By Joanne Carroll – 28/09/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. WorkSafe and Labour Inspectorate officials have visited Gloriavale Christian Community over claims some members were forced to work more than 20 hours a day. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Andrew Little asked officials to visit Gloriavale on the…
Newshub – Police, WorkSafe, Labour Inspectorate visit Gloriavale after allegations of controlling behaviour, worker exploitation
: Michael Morrah – 28/09/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Police, WorkSafe and the Labour Inspectorate have all visited Gloriavale after a Newshub investigation uncovered claims of controlling behaviour by leaders and the exploitation of workers. Newshub can reveal Justice Minister Andrew Little has instructed the Labour Inspectorate to…
Newshub – Gloriavale accused of targeting members who spoke out against controlling leadership
: By Michael Morrah – 27/09/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. Newshub has learned the current Gloriavale members who spoke to Newshub about the controlling nature of their leaders have been targeted for speaking to us. A human rights advocate says one of the men was made to meet…
Newshub – Top lawyer compares Gloriavale’s leadership to Islamic State
: By Michael Morrah – 26/09/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. A top Auckland lawyer has likened Gloriavale’s leadership to the terrorist organisation, Islamic State [IS]. That might sound like an extreme comparison, but he’s referring to the control leaders have over the flock. Dennis Gates has been investigating…
Newshub – Worksafe inspectors look into Gloriavale over current members’ claims of punishing work hours
: By Michael Morrah – 25/09/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. It follows Newshub’s story on Thursday night, where two current members revealed their punishing work hours and controlling and threatening behaviour from their leaders. The two men risked everything to reveal what they say is the reality of…WorkSafe inspectors heading to Gloriavale after claims of 20-hour work days
: Stuff – 25/09/2020 WorkSafe is sending inspectors to the Gloriavale Christian community to look into claims some members were forced to work more than 20 hours a day. Newshub reported on Thursday that two community members had spoken out about incredibly long work days, demanded by “controlling” community leaders known…
Gloriavale leavers tell their story in Tauranga
: By Emma Houpt – 25/09/2020 “Am I just going to allow my authenticity, my uniqueness and my power as a woman to be slowly eroded, or am I going to do the most terrifying thing and leave Gloriavale to find myself?” That was the question Constance Ready asked herself just…
Current Gloriavale members sneak out to openly criticise leaders
: By Michael Morrah – 24/09/2020 [Video can be viewed in article link]. For the first time ever, members of Gloriavale walked out in secret to raise serious allegations of control, long work hours and mental abuse. “I feel this is my way of helping that change. Not to destroy people’s…
The AM Show with Duncan Garner talking about the legal proceedings that John Ready is taking against Gloriavale.
: AM Show with Duncan Garner – 24/09/2020 Video link to Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust Facebook page where this video is recorded. The AM Show with Duncan Garner talking about the legal proceedings that John Ready is taking against Gloriavale. View here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=636254033705829…
