‘Treated as slaves’: Former Gloriavale women recognised as employees in Employment Court triumph_Stuff

July 13, 2023: Jake Kenny, Joanne Naish and Tatiana Gibbs | Stuff | Former Gloriavale women who have won vindication over their claim they were employees at the Christian community say it feels “incredible to be heard, acknowledged and believed” after their victory in an Employment Court case. Their lawyer, Brian Henry, says…

Former Gloriavale residents were employees, not volunteers, court rules: Newshub

July 13, 2023: Caley Callahan | Newshub | The Employment Court has ruled six former Gloriavale residents were employees – not volunteers – while living in the reclusive West Coast Christian community. In a decision released on Thursday, Employment Court Chief Judge Christina Inglis said she had “no doubt” the plaintiffs “worked extremely…

Gloriavale in court: Leavers win Employment Court case, judge rules women born to work and any choice ‘illusionary’_NZ Herald

July 13, 2023: Anna Leask | NZ Herald | A group of women born and raised at Gloriavale were employees and not volunteers during their time at the secretive Christian community, the Employment Court has ruled. Born into the community at Haupiri on the South Island’s West Coast, the women were “taught from…

Gloriavale leaders accused of misleading court: Newshub

March 28, 2023: Caley Callahan | Newshub | Gloriavale leaders have been accused of misleading the Employment Court over their use of lawyers. Late last year, the community’s leaders informed the hearing they would represent themselves. But when closing submissions began on Tuesday morning, they once again had legal counsel. Gloriavale leader Samuel…

Gloriavale leaders get new lawyer after claiming they couldn’t afford one: 1News

March 28, 2023: By Ryan Boswell | 1News | After claiming they couldn’t afford legal representation, Gloriavale leaders have turned up at the Employment Court with a new lawyer, sparking a war of words and delaying proceedings. Carter Pearce is now representing the West Coast commune in a dispute over whether six former…

Final witness in Gloriavale court case says employment relationships ‘wouldn’t work’: Newshub

March 23, 2023: By Caley Callahan | Newshub | An unlikely TV star has been called as the final witness in the employment case against Gloriavale. Dove Stedfast, more commonly known as Dove Love, told the hearing that employment relationships wouldn’t work for their way of life. “My name is Dove Stedfast,” the…

Star of Gloriavale documentary appears at Employment Court: 1News

March 23, 2023: By Ryan Boswell | 1News Reporter| The star of a television show about Gloriavale never wants to be a leader of the West Coast commune because of her Christian beliefs. Dove Steadfast, who was once known as Dove Love, was grilled about women’s rights at Gloriavale during an Employment Court…