Gloriavale leader Howard Temple investigated for assaulting woman

Friday, 19 June 2020

Gloriavale Christian Community Overseeing Shepherd (leader) Howard Temple.

Gloriavale leader Howard Temple has been investigated for assaulting a woman, yet despite his admission he used force, police will not charge him.

Temple, who took over as the isolated West Coast Christian community's Overseeing Shepherd after Hopeful Christian's death, was investigated for an assault on a 37-year-old in January.

The woman had left the community, but was there to visit her mother.

Police documents, seen by Stuff, show the woman told police that Temple grabbed her around the back of the neck and shoulders. In the ensuing struggle her head hit the ground and while she was on the ground a Gloriavale woman pulled her hair so hard her eyes watered.

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The victim told police she received facial bruising and marks on her neck and back from the incident.

South Canterbury is home to about 75 former Gloriavale leavers. (Video first published in January 2020)

She immediately reported the assault to the police and made an official statement the next day.

The woman involved has declined to speak to the media about the incident.

Temple, when approached for comment, said: 'Listen, I'm sorry. I can't comment in any way. I am not free to discuss anything with you'.

A source close to the victim said she had experienced anxiety, trauma and a sore back since the incident.

Temple attempted to block her from seeing her mother in the preschool, where they both worked for 14 years.

He repeatedly told her she had no right to visit or talk to her mother. The struggle happened when she refused to stop and talk to him, and tried to enter through another door.

Temple admitted to police he used force to stop the woman entering the preschool centre. Witnesses from the community told police they saw a 'struggle' between Temple and the woman as he tried to remove her from the community.

After a five-month investigation, police found Temple's use of force was technically an assault, but was reasonable and justified to prevent the woman from trespassing. The police noted Temple was a lawful occupier of the property who was entitled to allow or disallow anyone on the property.

However, according to the source, the victim did not believe she was trespassing. She grew up in Gloriavale, married and had several children in there, finally leaving in August 2019. She understood she had a right to enter the property after Gloriavale wrote new policies saying family members were allowed to visit as a result of the Charities Services investigation in 2017.

Former MP Catherine Delahunty (bottom right) at Gloriavale with Howard Temple (top right).

Detective Senior Sergeant Kirsten Norton said in a statement on Friday she could not discuss the specifics of the case for privacy reasons.

Police conducted a 'thorough investigation' and reviewed the evidence, she said.

'Police need to apply the Solicitor General's Guidelines regarding the decision to prosecute. In this case, the evidential test was not met.'

Questions are now being asked around how trespass law in New Zealand applies to Gloriavale.

“Gloriavale is known for splitting families, and making visits very difficult. The leaders are in control over who you speak to, and family members inside Gloriavale come under extreme pressure to cut off their loved ones who have left,” one source said.

“We are aware of a number of altercations over the years, between senior members of Gloriavale and visitors, however this is the first time a woman has been assaulted. We are sad that Gloriavale will not allow people to visit their families peaceably.”

Former MP Catherine Delahunty said she was appalled the woman was accused of trespass.

'For the police to collude with that allegation of trespass is morally wrong. If someone owns a property I guess they are allowed to trespass someone, but contextually for a former Gloriavale member to be prevented access to her family is inhumane and unfair,' she said.

She visited Gloriavale in 2015 when she questioned the education opportunities for girls in the community and found it 'deeply troubling' that women cannot go to university and are only allowed to have children and work in childcare or midwifery.

The Charities Services in 2017 investigated the Christian Church Community Trust that governs the isolated religious community. It looked into allegations of sexual and physical abuse, forced marriage, forced separation of families and a controlling environment. The report concluded that, despite evidence of serious wrongdoing, the trust should not be issued with a warning notice but instead continue to work with Charities Services to bring it up to standard.

It spoke to former members who alleged that once they left the Gloriavale Community they were denied all contact with their family or access to the community.

'Charities Services has discussed this allegation with the trustees who have advised that they have never stopped leavers from having such contact … They have further confirmed that the leavers can visit the Gloriavale Community and attend the community’s Sunday service as long as they comply with the rules of the community and do not challenge the beliefs of the members,' its report said.

The trustees agreed to provide Charities Services with a written policy that former members would have the opportunity to keep in contact with the friends and family that remained at Gloriavale.