Gloriavale report: Have we learned nothing from Centrepoint?

March 30, 2017: By Anke Richter – The Spiinoff – 30/03/2017 For an ex-member of New Zealand’s one and only ‘sex cult’, the parallels between Centrepoint and Gloriavale raise some serious questions about the government’s handling of sexual abuse accusations in religious communities, writes Anke Richter. Three years ago I spent many afternoons…

Gloriavale: Nine questions we can answer, and one we can’t

March 29, 2017: By Charlie Gates – Stuff – 29/03/2017 Allegations of sexual assault, physical abuse and coercive treatment have swirled around the Gloriavale religious community for many years. A government investigation into the West Coast religious group, released under the Official Information Act this week, offers insight into the allegations, reveals new…

Gloriavale allegations: Read the report

March 28, 2017: By: Morgan Tait – 28/03/2017 (Updated 29/03/2017) A copy of a 33-page report and a letter sent to the Christian Church Community Trust board detailing the investigation’s findings into the community at Gloriavale have been released to Newsroom under the Official Information Act. The documents supplied by Charities Services –…

Gloriavale: BNZ accounts run without members’ knowledge

March 27, 2017: | Newsroom | Morgan Tait | Senior Gloriavale members may have acted illegally in operating the bank accounts of members without their knowledge – and a government investigation uncovered the activity but did not impose any penalties. The Department of Internal Affairs’ Charities Services investigation did not impose any penalties…

Gloriavale: The history of a reclusive sect

March 27, 2017: | Newsroom | Morgan Tait | Founded by Australian-born evangelist Neville Cooper in 1969, Gloriavale follows its own fundamentalist interpretation of the New Testament. The principles of sharing and holding all things in common are at the centre of the group’s philosophy, as well as strictly abiding by God’s commandments.…

Inside Gloriavale: The official story

March 27, 2017: | Newsroom | Morgan Tait | Allegations of physical and sexual abuse, forced marriage, forced separation of families and a controlling environment at the Gloriavale religious community sparked an 18-month investigation by the New Zealand Government. Now, Newsroom’s Morgan Tait can exclusively reveal what the Department of Internal Affairs’ investigation found out…

Woman slams ‘negligent’ TV2 documentary A Woman’s Place

August 16, 2016: | NZ Herald | A woman with family ties to the controversial Gloriavale community has spoken out about a TV2 documentary she calls “exploitative and negligent”. In an opinion piece written for The Phantograph Punch, Melissa Harrison said the “irresponsibly soft” doco glossed over the problems residents and ex-residents of Gloriavale had…