Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni says she's had no suggestion by Government agencies children living at Gloriavale are unsafe.
Her comments come in the wake of a recent employment court ruling which has reignited the longstanding allegations of slavery at the West Coast commune.
In July, the Employment Court ruled six former Gloriavale residents were employees - not volunteers - while living in the reclusive Christian community.
The decision prompted the Education Review Office to investigate Gloriavale School after the judge found girls were only provided education to the extent it prepared them for their role within the community.
After the ruling, barrister Brian Henry, who has been leading the fight against Gloriavale, said the Christian community depends on child labour.
"This is slavery in our country, under our noses and nothing is happening except through the Labour Court and the chief judge of the labour court and what she's done in these hearings - otherwise, we'd just be carrying on.
"If we have got no agency in Government who is prepared to recognise and do something about slavery, we have got a big problem in our constitution."
On Newshub Nation, Sepuloni was pressed by co-host Rebecca Wright on whether Gloriavale is still exploiting children. Sepuloni, who also has the Workplace Relations and Safety portfolio, said she is not the minister in charge of working with Gloriavale.
"We are watching what's happening down there and there is ongoing work," she told Newshub Nation on Saturday.
"If I am completely frank, I didn't realise we would be talking about this today otherwise I would have got an update beforehand so I can speak to it."
Sepuloni said Government agencies have lots of eyes over the children of Gloriavale and monitoring them closely.
"I haven't had any suggestions that they are unsafe," she said.
In a press release after Sepuloni's interview, NZ First leader Winston Peters called for the children to be freed - accusing Government officials of failing to protect them.
In August 2022, the Cabinet established a multi-agency response to coordinate existing operational activity following the Courage case decision - which found three former male members were employees at Gloriavale from the age of 6. The All-of-Government response to support Gloriavale is convened by the Regional Public Service Commissioner for the West Coast.
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