The head of a group helping people who leave Gloriavale says a former resident admitting he sexually offended against children is "incredibly tragic" and believes Gloriavale's leaders have allowed abuse to flourish.
A 55-year-old man, who has name suppression, has pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including sexual violation and indecent assault of a child under 12 years old.
In total, the man is facing 38 charges in relation to 10 victims.
He pleaded not guilty to 27 other charges at the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.
The charges relate to offending between 1986 and 2012 at Gloriavale and in Greymouth and Christchurch.
The manager of the Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust, Liz Gregory, believes the way Gloriavale is run is a big part of the problem.
"In our opinion, I think there's a place for the leaders to be held accountable for allowing and maintaining a culture where abuse flourished and victims were silenced."
Because of concerns about child welfare at Gloriavale, the Children's Commissioner asked an independent investigator to talk to people who had left.
The contractor's report, completed on February 14 and obtained by Newshub under the Official Information Act, states the following:
Children are described as "hugely at risk"
"There are kids in there now being harmed"
There's "acute concern" about young women being sent to India to marry men in Gloriavale's community there
It's anticipated "Gloriavale will crumble" as its practices are exposed, leaving the possibility of a "tsunami of leavers" who'll need support.
Gregory says about 50 people have left Gloriavale since October 2020 and "we don't see that stopping."
She says there are many hurt and broken people at Gloriavale and wanted to remind residents that there is support available.
Gloriavale didn't respond to Newshub's request for comment.
