In a statement Tuesday, the DIA acknowledged Gloriavale had implemented changes in recent years to improve governance, safeguarding and accountability.
“However, the seriousness, scale and duration of the governance and oversight failures led to a finding that trustees had failed in their responsibilities, and that deregistration was in the public interest,” the DIA said.
The decision means the trust will be deregistered tomorrow and it won’t be able to apply for charitable status for another three years.
“This outcome highlights the importance of accountability, effective governance, and demonstrable public benefit within the charitable sector. Maintaining public trust and confidence in registered charities is fundamental to the integrity of New Zealand’s charities system,” Stanley said.
She said the decision reflects the seriousness of the conduct identified and the impact on those affected.
Former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple in court at his senencing for decades of sex abuse. Photo / Joe Allison
In a statement from the Charities Registration Board, it said it found the way Gloriavale operated was “unlawful and inconsistent” with the wellbeing of trust beneficiaries.
“The Board has disqualified former trustee Howard Temple for the maximum period of five years to ensure he cannot assume a governance role again,” the agency’s statement said.
Temple was sentenced to 26 months prison in December for decades of sex offending against girls and women.
Within minutes of the decision being handed down, Temple’s lawyer Michael Vesty filed an appeal in the High Court.
A judge then granted his elderly client bail pending that appeal.
In 2022, the former principal of Gloriavale Christian School Faithful Pilgrim was banned by the Teacher’s Council’s disciplinary tribunal from leading a school for three years after failing to report a teacher’s sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl.
Teacher Just Standfast forcefully kissed the girl, touched her bottom and exposed his penis. She told her mother who immediately told Pilgrim what had happened. In response, he moved the teacher to a Year 11 boys’ class – which he claimed removed any risk of reoffending.
Meanwhile, 61 Gloriavale leavers last month filed Employment Relations Authority claims against Gloriavale’s Overseeing Shepherd for lost wages, entitlements, compensation and damages totalling almost $40 million, Radio NZ reported.
The legal action followed two Employment Court rulings in 2022 and 2023 that found three men and six women were Gloriavale employees, rather than volunteers. They were working in factories, on farms or on the community’s domestic teams.
The board said it considered evidence from four other current and former trustees and concluded it was not in the public interest to disqualify them.
Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year at the NZ Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald’s video team in July 2024.