A major police investigation into abuse at Gloriavale has identified more than 100 potential victims of crimes spanning about four decades, Stuff can reveal. The previously undisclosed and ongoing investigation, dubbed Operation Mathius, began in 2021, and followed another investigation that brought to light offending involving 60 people at the West Coast fundamentalist Christian community. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Gloriavale’
Major Gloriavale investigation finds 138 potential abuse victims, dozens of suspected offenders
Monday, December 4th, 2023Crown knew details of Hopeful Christian’s crimes in mid-90s – lawyer
Thursday, March 23rd, 2023The Crown had detailed knowledge of Gloriavale founder Hopeful Christian’s crimes in the mid-1990s but “dropped the ball” by failing to help the community deal with sexual abuse, the Employment Court has heard. Two Court of Appeal judgments tendered in a case brought by six former Gloriavale women describe how Christian was said to have Read more
Gloriavale leaders give community members option to have Covid-19 vaccine
Monday, October 4th, 2021The leaders of the isolated Gloriavale Christian Community have told its members they can choose to be vaccinated against Covid-19. This is a U-turn from its past anti-vaccination stance. The community has previously blocked the West Coast from hitting immunisation targets as its babies are not given vaccines. The community has a population of about Read more
Serious incidents at Gloriavale reported to WorkSafe; no action taken
Thursday, November 12th, 2020Gloriavale workers have suffered lost fingers, falls, chemical burns and been overcome with toxic fumes in a series of incidents since 2016. However, the Government’s workplace safety watchdog ruled the incidents did not meet the “minimum threshold for formal investigation.” It comes after reports some members of the West Coast Christian community were forced to Read more
Royal commission gathering evidence relating to Gloriavale
Thursday, August 27th, 2020
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care recently announced it will investigate The Catholic and Anglican churches. It is also going to be carrying out a separate inquiry into Marylands a residential school for boys, many with learning disabilities. But other investigations into faith-based institutions are also going to be set up, as Read more
Concerns raised about Gloriavale complying with lockdown
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020Concerns have been mounting that members of the Gloriavale Christian community are not adhering to the nationwide lockdown. Those close to the exclusive, controlling Christian community 67km east of Greymouth told the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust the rules were being ignored. Police said they were working with the Gloriavale community to make sure its members Read more
Trust established to support former Gloriavale members
Thursday, July 25th, 2019During the past six years about 70 former members of the Gloriavale community based at Haupiri, on the West Coast of the South Island, have resettled in South Canterbury, Liz Gregory says it’s now time to set up a trust to help support those who had made the “massive” decision to leave the community of Read more
Gloriavale applies for Provincial Growth Fund grant
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018
The Gloriavale community is applying for a grant from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund to set up a new health food enterprise on the West Coast. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says he didn’t expect communes to put in for a share of the provincial growth fund but Gloriavale’s application has shown anyone can Read more
The life and death of Gloriavale’s Hopeful Christian
Thursday, May 17th, 2018
Gloriavale founder, Neville Cooper, know as Hopeful Christian, died on Tuesday at his community on the South Island’s West Coast. He had been suffering from cancer. Cooper’s funeral took place on Wednesday, but outsiders were not allowed to attend. They were able to email condolence messages to the community. Two cars blocked the entrance to the Read more
Christian’s in battle for the souls of Gloriavale
Monday, May 7th, 2018There is a battle going on for the souls of the people of Gloriavale – a battle that is taking place night after night at the fundamentalist Christian community Religious groups are undertaking night-time raids to drop off material that presents a different view of God. Read more