Ex-Gloriavale resident storms out of court hearing

February 22, 2023: By RNZ | A Gloriavale mother has denied cutting all ties with her daughter after she chose to leave the West Coast commune. The testimony prompted the woman’s daughter Rose Standtrue to storm out of the Employment Court hearing in Greymouth on Wednesday. Six former Gloriavale women, including Rose, are…

Gloriavale: Claims of forced births ‘untrue’, ‘extremely offensive’

February 22, 2023: By Ryan Boswell |1News Reporter| Claims that Gloriavale women are forced to have babies by the leadership to bring in money have been called “totally disgusting”, “untrue”, and “extremely offensive”. Current member Christiana Standtrue told the Employment Court that she has always loved babies and children. Standtrue said she believes…

Gloriavale: mother v daughter

February 22, 2023: By Laura Mills | Greymouth Star | A mother had police come to help her daughter leave Gloriavale, the Employment Court in Greymouth heard today. Six former Gloriavale women claim they lived in slave-like conditions on a gruelling rotation of domestic duties and are seeking a ruling that they were…

Gloriavale mother limits contact with daughter, ‘trying to undermine my faith’

February 22, 2023: By Ryan Boswell | 1News Reporter | A Gloriavale mother of 12 has limited contact with one child because she’s trying to “undermine my children and my faith and what I stand for”. Hannah Patience Standtrue was asked about the evidence given by her daughter Rose Standtrue at an Employment…

Gloriavale witness talks of ‘crushing’ treatment and forgiveness

February 21, 2023: By Jean Edwards | RNZ | A Gloriavale woman has broken down in court describing a humiliating scolding by then-senior leader Fervent Stedfast in the Christian community’s dining room. Treasure Stedfast also shed tears at the Employment Court hearing in Greymouth, expressing her sorrow at the way former members felt…

Court hears claim Māori women have less say than Gloriavale women

February 21, 2023: By Ryan Boswell | 1News Reporter | Gloriavale is being compared to living on a marae, with one commune member claiming Māori women have less say than Gloriavale women. At an Employment Court hearing to decide whether six former residents are employees or volunteers, Treasure Stedfast introduced herself in te…

Gloriavale ‘can’t afford’ to lose Employment Court battle, member says

February 20, 2023: By Jean Edwards | RNZ | A Gloriavale mother-of-eight has told a court the Christian community cannot afford to pay everyone wages and employment relationships would destroy their way of life. Temperance Hopeful, who is married to Shepherd Noah Hopeful, told the Employment Court hearing in Greymouth that Gloriavale members…

Gloriavale could be ‘destroyed’ by employment laws – senior woman

February 20, 2023: By Ryan Boswell | 1News Reporter | Introducing employment laws to Gloriavale could “destroy” the West Coast commune, according to a senior woman. Temperance Hopeful is giving evidence at the Employment Court, which is deciding whether six former members were employees or volunteers. Virginia Courage, Pearl Valor, Serenity Pilgrim, Rose…