Gloriavale’s working structure resembles a ‘sweatshop’ – lawyer

October 30, 2025: | RNZ | Bill Hickman | People born into the Gloriavale community are trapped into a working structure resembling “a sweatshop”, lawyers for former members say. But counsel for the…

Gloriavale a ‘very sharp business model’ designed to exploit cheap labour, Court of Appeal told

October 30, 2025: | Law News | Neil Sands | The Gloriavale religious community is an industrial-scale “sweatshop”, designed to exploit the cheap labour and welfare payments of its members, the Court of…

Gloriavale hierarchy fronts up to the Court of Appeal to challenge employment status of six former members

October 28, 2025: | Law News | Neil Sands | Members of the Gloriavale religious community were attempting to recreate the lifestyle of early Christians and did not expect payment for communal work.…

Gloriavale’s Overseeing Shepherd ordered to pay former members $274,000 in legal costs

December 3, 2024: | RNZ | Jean Edwards | Gloriavale’s Overseeing Shepherd has been ordered to pay six former members who were found to have been Christian community employees more than $274,000 in legal costs.…

Gloriavale ‘slavery’ claim on path to hearing

November 13, 2024: | The Post | Wellington Court Reporter | Former Gloriavale members have begun refining their claim of “slavery“ as it heads towards a hearing of allegations that the Crown failed…

Gloriavale granted leave to appeal employment case

May 3, 2024: | 1News Reporters | The religious sect Gloriavale has won leave to appeal a key Employment Court decision over whether it needs to pay its followers. The commune has long…

If Gloriavale members are not employees they are slaves, leaver says

May 3, 2024: | The Press | Joanne Naish | A Gloriavale leaver is calling for an end to “slavery” in the community with a challenge to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Pearl Valor…

Gloriavale granted leave to appeal women’s Employment Case

May 2, 2024: | The Press | Joanne Naish | Gloriavale leaders have been granted leave to appeal an Employment Court case that ruled a group of women were employees when they worked in the…