Large police contingent arrive at Gloriavale to make abuse inquiries
Thursday, 2 July 2020
The father of girl abused by a Gloriavale teacher says those making new assault claims at the Christian community need to be removed for their protection.
Police arrived en masse to the isolated West Coast farm on Thursday as part of an inquiry into new allegations of child sexual abuse. Four plain police cars, along with three Government cars, and a police truck arrived at the site near Greymouth.
They are investigating allegations of sexual offending by a teenage male inside the community, involving multiple boys. A complaint was laid to police on Monday on behalf of a young boy.
Police and Oranga Tamariki staff have been at Gloriavale this week and were understood to be interviewing boys.
**READ MORE:
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* Obituary: Gloriavale patriarch Hopeful Christian's troubling legacy
* Who was Hopeful Christian and how did he rise to notoriety at Gloriavale?
* Convicted child sex offender living in Gloriavale
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The religious community near Greymouth on the West Coast has been the subject of investigations in recent years by police, Oranga Tamariki and the Charities Commission.
A former senior member, a community teacher and Gloriavale founder Hopeful Christian have all been convicted of sexual offending.
The teacher, Just Standfast, indecently assaulted the 9-year-old girl, repeatedly kissed her and exposed himself on a bed during a playtime break.
He pleaded guilty in 2019 after another charge of doing an indecent act on a child was withdrawn. He served community detention.
The father of a girl indecently touched by Standfast said he hoped any potential victims and witnesses would be given protection.
The leaders paid for a defence lawyer and attended court in support of the teacher, he said.
The father said believed witnesses and victims had to be removed. “They can't be in Gloriavale until any potential charges go to court because of the threat and pressure that would be put on them living there.”
He said, in his opinion: '[Any] perpetrator is fully protected while the victim gets nothing, and even is worked against.”
A woman who answered the phone at Gloriavale on Wednesday said Temple had told her to inform media he was unavailable for comment.
Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive for south children and families services Alison McDonald said staff had been on site at Gloriavale 'over recent days'.
'We are not able to comment further at this stage,' she said.
Police have confirmed they are investigating after receiving a complaint.
'Police have visited the property in recent days to make initial inquiries into a report received,' a spokeswoman said.
A Greymouth-based Oranga Tamariki manager visits the religious community’s shepherds about four times a year, but this latest inquiry is unrelated.