An 18-month investigation of the Gloriavale community has revealed serious concerns about suspected child abuse.
Reports of serious misconduct within the Gloriavale community have been under investigation a new Newsroom feature reports.
Documents obtained from Charities Services, which is part of Internal Affairs, revealed an 18-month investigation into allegations of forced marriage, physical and sexual abuse and enforced control of personal matters such as passports and bank accounts, the Newsroom website reports.
The Charities Services undertook interviews with people who had recently left the community.
The main allegations in the report included that of the 18 former Gloriavale members interviewed, five females claimed they were victims of sex crimes.
There were also claims of unfair work conditions, including working excessive hours
During the investigation, Charities Services met with Fervent Stedfast, Enoch Upright and Howard Temple who are 'The Trust' in charge of Gloriavale.
The investigation revealed that Charities Services has previously referred accusations of sexual assault within the community to police - and children from two families had been given assistance from Child, Youth and Family.
Of the 11 people that left the community in the last five years, nine had signed documents which gave the trust total rights to their bank accounts, passports and any entitlements in their name. Many claim they were coerced into doing so.
As a result of this, the BNZ bank recently changed its policy so that new account holders from the Gloriavale community have to been seen individually by bank staff, rather than in the company of shepherds or servants as it was previously.
Over time 'The Trust' has built up a community which now owns land, buildings and property totaling around $30 million.
There are 55 families at Gloriavale, a small Christian group based at Haupiri on the West Coast of the South Island.
Gloriavale Trust was formed in June 1991, and became a charity in May 2008.
As a result of the investigation, 'The Trust' were told to put in place a series of procedures and safeguards including:
- Appointing external board members and holding regular board meetings.
- Writing and implementing policy to deal with complains of sexual or physical assaults.
- Ceasing the practice of operating bank accounts in the name of its members.
- Disestablishing the use of the so-called "isolation hut" for punishment.
- Allowing communication with people who have left the community
The Newsroom website's article is the latest in a series of investigations into the Gloriavale community.
The first took place in 1994 by then Three current affairs reporter, Melanie Reid.
Newshub.
