1News – Are Gloriavale residents employees or volunteers?

February 21, 2022: 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…

TVNZ 1 News – Claims Gloriavale members forced to sign documents waiving legal advice

August 10, 2021: 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…

TVNZ 1 News – Former Gloriavale man pleads guilty to sex offending against children

August 4, 2021: 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

July 26, 2021: 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

July 23, 2021: 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…

Newshub – Claims of exploitation at Gloriavale go unheard as MBIE says it’s out of their jurisdiction

July 23, 2021: 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…