New Zealand's Gloriavale Commune Loses Charity Status
The foundation of the Gloriavale Christian community operating in New Zealand has lost its tax-exempt status due to severe irregularities such as child labor and failure to report sex crimes.
The Christian Church Community Trust, the financial arm of the religious community known as Gloriavale in New Zealand, has been stripped of its charitable status for three years following an investigation due to grave violations such as child labor and the cover-up of sexual abuse cases.
Serious Violations and Grounds for the Decision
The Charities Registration Board stated that trust funds supported illegal activities within the community and allowed practices inconsistent with the welfare of its members. The decision will take effect as of September 23.
Past Legal Proceedings
The conviction of the community's former leader, Howard Temple, in 2025 for multiple counts of sexual abuse against women and children was one of the key factors that led to questioning the trust's status.
In 2022, a court ruled that community members were not volunteers, but unpaid workers forced to labor in trust-run businesses. During this process, it was determined that children were made to work under harsh conditions.
Steps Regarding the Educational Institution
The failure to report sex crimes at the school owned by the trust was reported as a serious security issue. Citing the safety of students, the Ministry of Education canceled the school's registration and initiated closure proceedings.
Trust Management and the Future
Former leader Howard Temple has been barred from holding charity management positions for five years. The trust management may exercise the right to appeal the decision, but the board emphasized that the decision is in the public interest due to the scale of the violations.