Full Breakdown
Gloriavale Leavers Seek $40 Million for Lost Wages and Entitlements
8/27/2026, 4:20:13 AM
Legal Claims Over Alleged Forced Labour
Former members of the Gloriavale Christian Community have lodged applications with the Employment Relations Authority seeking roughly $40 million in lost wages, holiday pay, KiwiSaver contributions, and compensation for denied rest and meal breaks. The claim covers 70 leavers who say they were compelled to work from childhood in factories, farms, kitchens and laundries without a written employment agreement, statutory leave or control over their earnings, which were deposited into a communal “sharing account.”
Court Findings on Employment Status
Employment Court rulings in 2022 and 2023 classified three men and six women as employees rather than volunteers, establishing that work was assigned from birth and that the community’s business model relied on child labour. In May, Chief Judge Christina Inglis ruled that the six-year limitation on wage-arrears claims began when the nine identified leavers left Gloriavale, and she granted leave for out-of-time personal grievance applications, citing the community’s “uniquely prohibitive circumstances.”
Alleged Working Conditions and Injuries
The applications allege that leavers worked excessively long hours without statutory rest, were punished physically for slow performance, and endured dangerous conditions that caused severe injuries. Barrister Stephen Patterson calculated that 41 % of the male claimants suffered lifelong injuries such as crushed hands, amputated fingers and scalded limbs, while many women reported chronic back problems.
Official Statements & Responses
Barrister Stephen Patterson emphasized the lack of genuine choice for those born into the sect. Chief Judge Inglis stressed that the court’s focus was on legal rights, not on Gloriavale’s religious practices or financial capacity. Gloriavale has been contacted for comment but has not responded.
Verbatim Quote
- “It was drilled into us from a very young age. What other than slavery is that? They didn’t actually give us a choice.” — Barrister Stephen Patterson
