Gloriavale leavers 'incensed' by leaders' claims about freedoms at religious community
Thursday, 20 May 2021
Former Gloriavale members say claims made by leaders in documents just released by the High Court do not reflect their experience of life inside the secluded West Coast community.
Some former Gloriavale members have asked the High Court to give control of the community's assets to the Public Trust because they allege the community’s leaders have failed to provide adequate working and living conditions.
David Courage, who left Gloriavale 18 months ago, said he was disappointed the documents released by the High Court on Wednesday had redacted the 29 ways the leaders had allegedly breached their duties.
“Given there is already a lot of information about Gloriavale in the public sphere – including concerns about oppression, child safety and human rights abuses – the allegations should be aired,” he said.
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The documents included a five-page position statement from the defendants, outlining their response to the allegations. It said members were free to leave the community and were not “damned” if they did.
They were given support and were welcome to visit as long as they were respectful.
“We were always taught that if you left the community you would be damned,” Courage said.
“The commitment vow we signed said if we didn’t obey the leaders it was ‘to the peril of our souls’.”
Isaac Pilgrim, who left the community in 2018, said in his experience leavers could not easily visit the community.
“Many have been denied the right to visit their families, even when they promised to come in peace. If you try there will be repercussions on the people you try to visit,” he said.
In his view, members were not free to voice their opinions.
“If you did express an opinion you’d be hauled before the ‘psychological firing squad’ and forced to recant, or you’d be kicked out.”
The leaders created a new commitment vow in 2018, which he understood gave them total power over the people who signed it, he said.
“Most of the people who signed it were born into the community and have had no opportunity to understand other mindsets. They are told their whole lives that to remain living there they have to sign it.”
The leaders said in their position statement that parents at Gloriavale were responsible for raising their children.
A former member, who did not want to be named, said that was not her experience.
“The leaders have complete control over your family, your private life and your home. You have no say over what education your children receive, and you can’t choose where or what hours you or your children work. How can you look after your 10 children and keep them safe when both you and your husband work full time with few days off?”
Another former member, who is part-Māori and did not want to be named, was “incensed” to read the statement’s reference to te reo Māori being incorporated into Gloriavale’s school’s curriculum.
“I remember a staff member being reprimanded for teaching children the Māori national anthem. You’re not allowed to practice your culture inside Gloriavale. If you know your iwi or hapū, you are told there is something wrong with you because you shouldn’t be interested in those things.”
The statement also said members had access to computers, mobile phones, internet, and vehicles.
Former member Christian Pilgrim, who left more than two years ago, said such access was limited and monitored.
Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust chair Al Aitken said the public scrutiny of the High Court trial would help identify the true situation in the community.
“It’s the kind of transparency we all need to see.”
Liz Gregory, of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, said it would be great if the leaders did live up to what they included in the defence statements.
“We’d welcome anything that gives those living in Gloriavale the rights the rest of New Zealanders enjoy … the freedom to communicate and travel, to be able to make decisions about their families, and be free from fear and coercion. That’s what every human deserves.”
The leaders’ document said community members were given simple home-grown meals, warm, clean and dry accommodation, and access to recreational facilities including sports courts, boats, a swimming pool and film nights.
They were offered secondary education to NCEA level 2, with an extensive music programme and inclusion of te reo Māori, and the community's school had received positive reviews from the Education Review Office.
The community also funded access to tertiary education, including trades, pilots, agriculture, teaching and midwifery, the leaders said.
Members could also see a GP once a fortnight and visit Greymouth for more urgent matters including dental care and chiropractic treatment.