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Gloriavale admissions stun leaver

Marine Lourens and Rachael Comer

The leadership of Gloriavale has apologised for its role in ‘‘failing to prevent and protect victims of labour exploitation and sexual abuse’’.

The leadership said it was ‘‘deeply saddened’’ by the harm members of the community had experienced.

This comes after a recent Employment Court ruling that former Gloriavale members who worked up to 70 hours a week for years were not volunteers.

Three former workers brought the case against Gloriavale leaders, three of its businesses and the Labour Inspectorate.

In evidence, former members described beginning work in the businesses aged 6. They said if they failed to work they were hit with implements, food was withheld and they were publicly shamed.

The leadership of the Christian community said a lot had changed at Gloriavale since 2018 when new leadership took over after the death of founder Hopeful Christian.

‘‘We can state categorically that child labour is no longer used in the commercial activities of any of our businesses, and our health and safety policies are now fully aligned with the International Labour Organisation Conventions on child labour.

‘‘Our health and safety policy now does not permit children to enter our commercial business sites and our school’s work transition programme was ended last year so that our teenage children could continue with their senior education.’’

The leaders wanted to discourage commercial boycotts of Gloriavale’s businesses saying it would have a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of members.

‘‘Gloriavale also indirectly supports the livelihoods of the employees and families of a great many service businesses throughout the West Coast region.’’

Referring to investigations into sexual offending in the community, leadership members said they too ‘‘have been hurt as we discovered the extent of sexual offending that has occurred within our community’’.

A police inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse at the West Coast community brought to light offending that involved 61 people, including harmful sexual behaviour across multiple generations.

The leaders said extensive measures had been put in place to ensure such events could not reoccur. ‘‘This includes establishing a child protection leads team that answers directly to Oranga Tamariki, led by a senior external adviser appointed by Oranga Tamariki.’’

An independent social worker nominated by Oranga Tamariki visited the community once a week.

‘‘We make an absolute assurance that sex offenders will not work in our schools or directly with children,’’ said the leaders.

They also said ‘‘despite public perceptions to the contrary’’, they supported leavers financially. They recognised, however, that some leavers had not ‘‘received adequate remuneration’’. It was being rectified.

Timaru-based Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust manager Liz Gregory said the apology had come as a huge surprise to leavers.

‘‘It’s an extraordinary letter and the first time there’s ever been an apology.’’

She said the letter appeared to be genuine and she was hopeful the promises made would happen.

She was aware of leavers receiving some financial support when they left the religious community, but nowhere near enough to help them set up a new life.

News

en-nz

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281578064286740

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