Government agencies accused of allowing abuse at Gloriavale to continue

March 27, 2024: | RNZ | Jean Edwards | Four government agencies are being accused of knowingly allowing abuse to happen at Gloriavale, in High Court action brought by a leavers’ lawyer who describes the community as a “sex cult cloaked in Christianity”. Barrister Brian Henry has filed proceedings against Oranga Tamariki, the…

Gloriavale India is in the spotlight with new documentary

March 27, 2024: | NZ Herald | Emma Gleason | In a covert visit captured by Escaping Utopia, two former members of Gloriavale – accompanied by an undercover camera crew – go inside the gates of the organisation’s Indian outpost. Gloriavale is lodged firming, infamously in the New Zealand psyche. By now Kiwis are very familiar…

Gloriavale acknowledges ‘significant challenges’ as finances tank

March 26, 2024: | NZ Herald | Matt Nippert | Controversial West Coast religious community Gloriavale has seen income slump as it grapples with legal challenges ranging from its school operations and employment practices to its banking facilities. The Christian Church Community Trust, the umbrella organisation under which the 500-strong West Coast community of Gloriavale operates,…

Escaping Utopia part 2: ‘She’s not safe here’

March 26, 2024: | Stuff | Amberleigh Jack | RECAP: Before opening credits even begin to roll, part two of the new Gloriavale documentary hits with a brutal insight into lives within of the South Island Christian community. It’s a difficult, uncomfortable watch, that’s even tougher to turn away from. Through off-camera commentary, the viewer is…

Gloriavale Christian sect members developed a distinct accent as a result of isolation, linguist says

March 26, 2024: | NZ Herald | Lincoln Tan | Living in isolation in a closeted community has given members of the Gloriavale Christian sect an accent that is “unique and distinct”, a linguistic expert says. Gloriavale has been under the spotlight with a three-part documentary series called Escaping Utopiacurrently airing on TVNZ 1. There are about…