Written by Liz Gregory. Opinions expressed are her own. A number of Gloriavale Leavers staff have spent time in Christchurch supporting witnesses for the Employment Court Hearing during September 2022. While it’s fresh in my… 

The Gloriavale Leavers fighting Gloriavale in the Employment Court Paul Brown from PB Law contacted us and asked if we would be interested in him writing an article based on his knowledge of Employment Law… 

Rachael is a long-time supporter of the work of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust and a survivor herself of another religious group who practices harmful social practices. She champions the cause of people who are… 

Before court cases go to trial, the plaintiffs and witnesses for the Prosecution (in this case the ex-members of Gloriavale) must complete Affidavits. These are also called Briefs of Evidence. These get read aloud in… 

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By Marine Lourens | Stuff | Young girls in Gloriavale who are uncomfortable with being touched by older men rarely speak up about it because they know they need an “ally” within the community leadership.… 

The Gloriavale Ex-Members Girls’ Employment case against Gloriavale (and the Govt inaction), has taken another surprising twist. This past month, Gloriavale defendants requested that Chief Judge Christina Inglis NOT be the judge for the upcoming… 

Opinion piece: Liz Gregory Some days you read things which make your mouth drop open! That happened yesterday… Gloriavale was in court yesterday, fighting Westland Milk products decision to stop collecting milk until they came… 

Author Liz Gregory

Eight years ago we went and stayed at Gloriavale for the weekend and we attended one of their concerts. It was a life-changing experience for us. After the weekend I documented the experience and blogged about it in a secret blog group. I wrote a series of posts and reflections. I will make them live on this website soon.

Since then I have heard from so many ladies at Gloriavale the impact of the concerts on their lives. It took such a tremendous toll that I almost feel guilty for being part of the thousands of people every two years who attended and enjoyed the spectacle.

In hindsight, knowing the amount of pressure put on the members to produce and execute such an amazing event, night after night for weeks on end, I may have reconsidered. Or would I?

They wanted people to attend. And the curious part of me would have found that hard to turn down. You see, Gloriavale believed they needed to put on the concerts to keep up their appearances of  offering a “Charitable benefit” to the wider public. The concerts also enhanced their view as a utopian community and kept the local community of Greymouth enthralled.

In the past I have read so many comments on Facebook from people saying, “I went to their concert, it was amazing and we should just leave them to live peaceably because they’re not hurting anybody”.

However, when people leave they speak of the suffering they endured for the months leading up to concert time. Particularly the young ladies and mums. Had you given a thought that the lady who made your dinner might have 12 children, a new baby, and she’s been up early preparing your dinner? She won’t collapse into bed until late that night, and she’ll repeat that almost nightly for 6 weeks? Have you thought about the exploitation that may have been occurring during this time and the impact on the children and their education? Had you given a thought to the financial costs to the community (instead of spending it on healthcare and dental treatment)?

Read one woman’s account here of the grueling and punishing schedule she endured and her cry for help from the leaders of the Community.

And then keep in mind that he ignored the letter until a while later, and then one day mentioned it casually at breakfast saying, “I’ve heard whispers that some people are not wanting the concerts to continue because they make a lot of work. But they will be continuing.”

She was devastated and vowed she would never live in Gloriavale long enough to do another concert.

Opinions expressed are that of Liz Gregory and do no necessarily represent the views of the Trust.

The stark choice was put to John Ready in cross-examination during the recent Gloriavale Employment Hearing. He responded: “So I think of a boat and there’s a whole lot of layers and there is a…