Gloriavale trust stripped of charitable status over governance failures
The Gloriavale trust in New Zealand has been stripped of its charitable status by the Charities Registration Board, and former leader Howard Temple barred from governance roles. This decision follows an investigation into serious governance failures, including the use of child labour and non-reporting of sexual offending.
Why it matters
This decision highlights critical issues of accountability and governance within the charitable sector, particularly concerning vulnerable populations. It underscores the importance of regulatory oversight to ensure organizations claiming charitable status operate lawfully and in the public interest, with significant implications for the trust's future operations and public perception.
Gloriavale’s trust has been stripped of its charitable status, and former community leader Howard Temple has been barred from holding a governance role.
The Charities Registration Board made the decision following an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs.
“The Department welcomes this significant decision from the Board,” the DIA’s Director of Charities Services Charlotte Stanley said.
The DIA’s investigation considered findings from recent Employment Court and Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal hearings which detailed the use of child labour in trust-owned businesses, and the non-reporting of sexual offending against children at Gloriavale’s trust-owned school.
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.
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