Gloriavale has apologised to the Employment Court after a calamitous start to closing submissions.
The hearing was delayed by a day after the community's leaders engaged legal counsel, despite saying they couldn't afford it.
Gloriavale leader Samuel Valor began by making a public apology for Tuesday's delayed start.
Six former residents are arguing they were employees while living and working at Lake Haupiri.
The reclusive Christian community contested this with Samuel Valor, saying in court on Wednesday that "members perform work to meet the needs of the community and not as part of a transactional economy but as a shared service of love".
Gloriavale's lawyer told the hearing if they were to be employees it would impose a new reality.
"The fact that major changes would need to take place in this community to comply with a deeming of employment status demonstrates the real nature of the existing relationship is not one of employment."
A week of closing submissions comes after seven months of on-and-off hearings.
The hearing resumes on Thursday.
