Gloriavale Leader Howard Temple 'Did Not Grope', Lawyer Says in Ongoing Trial

The Greymouth District Court is set to hear more evidence from women accusing Howard Temple, the leader of the Gloriavale Christian Community, of sexual offending as the judge-alone trial continues. Temple, 85, is facing 24 charges of indecent assault and indecent acts against nine women, ranging in age from nine to 20 at the time of the alleged offenses, which span from 1997 to 2022.

The Crown alleges that the crimes occurred in the kitchen, dining hall, and a men's bathroom at the commune, located about 60 kilometers from Greymouth, at Lake Haupiri. According to the prosecution, Temple would prey on the young women, stroking their legs, grabbing them around the waist or by their dresses as they served food, or while working in the kitchen, grabbing them from behind, kissing them on the neck, or groping them.

Temple has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He acknowledges kissing and hugging some of the complainants but denies that any of these actions were indecent. His defense, led by lawyer Michael Vesty, argues that the gestures were demonstrations of 'gratitude and support' that were acceptable within the community's daily life. Vesty said Temple 'did not grope, did not grab, did not linger.'

On Monday, one of the nine complainants, who has name suppression, testified in court. The woman, who began working in the kitchen and dining hall from the time she was a primary school-aged child, described a culture of fear and victim-blaming. She shared how women and girls used various strategies to avoid being targeted by Temple and other men, and how the community often blamed victims for the abuse they endured.

The complainant, who was born at Gloriavale and left in her late 20s, described a system where women were often held responsible for any issues that arose, even between married men and other women. She also detailed how even minor infractions, such as showing too much hair under a headscarf or wearing ankle socks, were seen as rebellious or 'worldly' and could lead to isolation or shaming.

Vesty, during cross-examination, indicated that he will call witnesses to testify that the complainant had a warm and friendly relationship with Temple, and that she sometimes initiated hugs. The defense also spent time examining letters Temple sent to a former teenager while he was in India, addressing her as his 'favorite girlfriend.' The woman described the letters as inappropriate, while Vesty argued they reflected a 'genuine pastoral concern.'

The Crown plans to call the other complainants and two police officers involved in the case. The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues to unfold with testimony that has exposed a deeply troubling and complex history within the Gloriavale community.

As the trial progresses, the court will hear more about the alleged abuse, the community's response, and the long-term impact on the victims. This case has reignited public interest in the Gloriavale commune, which has long been the subject of scrutiny due to its isolation and unique social structure.