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Gloriavale is a Christian commune founded in New Zealand in 1969. It is known for its strict adherence to fundamentalist Christian beliefs and its self-sufficient lifestyle, in which members share all property and earn a living through farm work, gardening, and offering scenic flights.

For many years, the commune remained relatively unknown and unobserved by the public, but it gained attention in the mid-1990s when the founder was convicted of sexual abuse. This was followed by a series of allegations of abuse by former members, which led to investigations and significant media coverage in the late 2010s and beyond. As a result of these allegations, at least four members have been charged with abuse, with one conviction.

The death of the leader in 2018 and the subsequent investigations and negative press coverage have cast a shadow over the commune’s future as the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of these events.

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Religion: Christianity 
Denomination: Fundamentalism
Founder: Neville Cooper (AKA “Hopeful Christian)
Founded: 1969
Size: 609
Location: Haupiri, New Zealand 
Also called: Cooperites

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• Four members claimed to have been physically abused (source)
• Women who broke the rules were allegedly called “sluts” and “whores” (source)
• Members were allegedly “coerced” into giving all their assets to the community, and bank accounts were reportedly set up in the names of members without their consent (source)
• In response to allegations, the community told members that “anti-smacking laws apply inside the community,” and ten families attended a 10-week training course that outlines these laws. They also announced that they would improve their procedures around receiving assets from members, which include ensuring that a lawyer is present to explain the implications of signing the document (source)
• In 2019, 35 former members signed a letter alleging “physical, emotional and spiritual abuse, as well as pressure for members to lie to Government agencies” (source)
• The community was investigated in 2017 and 2020 for unethical work practices, namely for allegations of 20+ hour workdays and fatigue in the workplace. Investigators later announced that they found “no evidence” to support the allegations, although they told the community to “improve work practices” (source)
• In 2021, trustees launched an independent investigation into abuse allegations in the community (source)