Following recent allegations made by ex-members of the closeted West Coast community - including inappropriate adult-child relationships and harsh punishments for children who disobey orders - the police have appealed for those people to speak to them about their experiences.
"We are aware of certain allegations which have recently been made in the media and we would like to fully understand what these mean," Tasman Police district commander Superintendent Karyn Malthus said.
"We would welcome further information about this or any other matter, which will help police assess how to proceed from here."
Officers understood it may be a difficult decision for former members to make, she said, but assured anyone with such experiences that they would be "dealt with professionally and with empathy by staff who are trained to deal with sensitive issues".
"While police do not require a complaint to act, we do need to have all relevant information available to us to determine what, if any, further steps may be required," she said.
The appeal comes after a number of former members spoke to media last week, describing a tough regime where no-one in the community is allowed to question the Gloriavale leadership. Those who chose to leave are completely cut off from their family and friends on the inside, and are not permitted to contact them again, the former members claimed.
- Patrice Dougan of NZME. News Service
