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The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust is protesting outside The press Election debate, asking the prime minister to announce an investigation into the West Coast Christian community.
About 100 protesters demonstrated in front of the Christchurch City Hall before the election press debate began at 7pm on Tuesday. The debate is broadcast live Stuff.
Members of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, the animal rights organization SAFE, and the climate change group Extinction Rebellion gathered outside the room, singing and holding signs.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
The Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust wants the government to conduct an independent investigation into the isolated Christian community.
Liz Gregory, manager of the Gloriavale Alumni Support Trust, said an independent, immediate and wide-ranging investigation was needed amid concerns of modern slavery, exploitation, unsafe work practices, poor education , neglect of health, coercion, oppression, physical and sexual abuse, and illegal activities.
The sound of a crackling fire rang out over a loudspeaker as climate activists chanted “for our lives.” Others lay on the ground with crosses and signs saying “wake up humans, you are in danger too.”
READ MORE:
* The second senior member leaves the Gloriavale secret sect due to management concerns
* Gloriavale told WorkSafe to improve work-related health risks
* The Labor and Occupational Safety Inspectorate visits Gloriavale for illegal work claims
* Gloriavale withdraws requesting a new investigation on the community
At the same time, members of the Gloriavale Leavers group held up signs calling for an independent investigation and chanted “Gloriavale should be free, come on guys, let’s end slavery.”
Gregory said former Gloriavale members and supporters were disappointed, Jacinda Ardern said last week. NewsHub Leaders debate that she would not support an investigation into Gloriavale. Judith Collins, leader of the National Party, said she would.
“Jacinda’s cry is ‘be nice,’ and yet here she is reluctant to lead an investigation into the secret west coast commune.
“It can be said that these are 600 of the most vulnerable people in our country and yet she gave a resounding ‘no’. I find it extremely cruel, ”Gregory said.
A spokeswoman for Ardern said there was no need to establish a new independent investigation and any such proposal by National raised questions about the funding and powers for such an investigation.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
Extinction Rebellion and SAFE protest in front of the Christchurch City Hall, ahead of the press leaders debate.
“The government has made it clear that it takes allegations of mistreatment of workers in Gloriavale very seriously. Various agencies, including Worksafe, the [Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment] The Labor Inspectorate and the police already have the power and resources to respond to complaints, ”he said.
Animal rights organization SAFE and climate change group Extinction Rebellion also rallied outside of Tuesday’s leaders debate.
SAFE spokesman Will Appelbe said more needed to be done to avoid the worst effects of the climate emergency.
“Animal agriculture is our biggest contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions. We need to do better, and we can, if our politicians show strong leadership.”
Jonathan Guildford / Stuff
Activists from SAFE and Extinction Rebellion campaign for climate action outside of the media leaders’ debate at Christchurch City Hall on Tuesday.
Gregory previously started a petition asking the House of Representatives to urge the government to conduct a full independent investigation into Gloriavale. More than 400 people have signed the petition so far.
He said people were leaving Gloriavale at an ever-increasing rate and that the trust had been organizing “Gloriavale unmasking” events across the country, where former members shared their stories.
James Harrison, who left the community five years ago with his wife and 12 children, said people were always in awe of the details of how Gloriavale was addressed and how people were treated there.
“It is important to raise public awareness of the issues that are involved in Gloriavale and to give people a better understanding.”
Melody Pilgrim, who left in October 2019, said she was “speaking because most of the people in Gloriavale don’t have a voice.”
John Bisset / Stuff
Former Gloriavale member James Harrison shares his story with humor as Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust general manager and support worker Liz Gregory watches.
Former member John Ready brought legal action against Gloriavale in Superior Court late last month. Gloriavale has not yet received the papers.
Gregory said he wanted the government to reconsider the 2017 report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment that said Gloriavale members were volunteers and not employees.
“The people there are certainly not volunteers. They have no choice about when to work, where they work, how they work and they do not receive the protection that is provided to employees in our country. Where else is it acceptable to work long hours, without breaks, and only one week of vacation a year? “, He said.
Gloriavale had been warned by the government’s health and safety regulator about work-related health risks.
WorkSafe issued two improvement notices, a directive letter and a verbal instruction covering risk assessment, forklifts and work-related health risks for the isolated community last week.
The Labor Inspectorate and WorkSafe visited Gloriavale on reports that some members had been forced to work more than 20 hours a day.
A WorkSafe spokeswoman said four consultants visited Gloriavale on Sept. 28 and spoke with 13 workers who told them they were not workers, but volunteers.
Alden Williams / Stuff
Gloriavale Christian Community is located on the rural West Coast.
The Labor Inspectorate has no jurisdiction over volunteers. Ask current or former members to introduce themselves, so that the inspection can further assess the situation of the workers.
Labor Relations and Safety Minister Andrew Little said the government takes allegations about the treatment of workers at Gloriavale very seriously.
He said that WorkSafe will continue to collaborate with Gloriavale on health and safety issues for the next several weeks.
“The Labor Inspectorate is better able to exercise its enforcement powers when it has the direct cooperation of the complainants,” he said.
“The Inspection has made a public call for people with direct knowledge or experience in Gloriavale to submit information. Any evidence collected will inform a review of the 2017 ‘volunteer’ determination, ”he said.
Police are investigating allegations of sexual abuse in Gloriavale.
