New Zealand Social Development Minister Louise Upston is facing calls to resign after revelations she was "duped" by Gloriavale leaders during a visit to the controversial Christian community, with lawyers for former members accusing her of legitimizing abuse.
RNZ reports that Upston met with Gloriavale leadership in February and subsequently made positive public statements about conditions in the isolated West Coast community.
But lawyers representing former Gloriavale members say the minister was shown a "carefully stage-managed" version of life in the community, while the reality involves labor exploitation, restricted movement, and systematic control over members' lives.
Mate, this is Gloriavale we're talking about. A community so isolated and controlling that people have to escape in the middle of the night. Did the minister really think a guided tour arranged by the leadership would show her the truth?
Gloriavale, a Christian community of about 600 people near Haast, has faced multiple investigations and court cases over labor practices, with former members describing conditions that amount to modern slavery.
Recent Employment Court rulings found that Gloriavale women were effectively employees who should have been paid minimum wage for their work in the community's businesses. Instead, they received no wages and had no ability to leave.
Former member Lilia Tarawa, who escaped Gloriavale in 2018, said Upston's visit "gave credibility to abusers" and showed a fundamental misunderstanding of how closed, controlling communities operate.
"You cannot assess Gloriavale by visiting for a day with the leaders as your guides. It's like asking a prison warden to show you around and expecting to understand what the prisoners experience," said.
