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Gloriavale leaders apologise

Marine´ Lourens marine.lourens@stuff.co.nz

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

The leadership said yesterday that it was ‘‘deeply saddened’’ by the harm members of the community had experienced. The apology came 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 after previous investigations found residents were not employees and therefore not protected by New Zealand employment laws.

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

The leadership of the Christian community said a lot had changed 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 discouraged commercial boycotting of Gloriavale’s businesses, saying it would have a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of members, the majority of whom had never known another home besides Gloriavale.

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

Stuff reported earlier that Gloriavale’s offal processing plant was dumped by Silver Fern Farms over labour issues and other meat companies may follow suit.

Referring to investigations into sexual offending in the community, the leadership said it too had ‘‘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 uncovered 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 cannot reoccur.

‘‘This includes establishing a child protection team that answers directly to Oranga Tamariki, led by a senior external adviser appointed by Oranga Tamariki.’’

It said the community had since worked with independent counsellors and external agencies to help victims of sexual offending, and encouraged all members of the community to report abuse to the police, Oranga Tamariki or the child protection team. An independent social worker nominated by Oranga Tamariki visits the community once a week.

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

‘‘We make an absolute assurance sex offenders will not work in our schools.’’

Gloriavale leaders

National News

en-nz

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281749862978547

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