Monday, 4 August 2025 – Greymouth
Howard Temple, the 85‑year‑old leader of the Gloriavale Christian community, has admitted in court to a pattern of sexual and physical abuse against girls and young women that spanned more than two decades.
In the Greymouth District Court last week, Temple pleaded guilty to 12 charges—eight of indecent assault and four of common assault—covering offending between 1998 and 2022. The victims were aged between 9 and 20 at the time of the offending, and all were members of the remote West Coast sect.
Prosecutor Chris White told the court Temple’s position as leader gave him access and control over vulnerable members. The assaults were not isolated incidents but part of a culture where his word was law. “The victims were manipulated to believe what was happening to them was acceptable,” White said.
Victim impact statements painted a grim picture of life inside Gloriavale. One woman, now in her 30s, said she was punished when she tried to resist his advances. Another described how she left the community only to realise the years of abuse she had endured. “I thought it was normal because no one ever said otherwise,” she told the court.
The defence asked the judge to consider Temple’s age and failing health. Lawyer Kerry Cook said Temple had co‑operated with police and entered guilty pleas, sparing victims the trauma of a lengthy trial.
Judge Raoul Neave said the guilty pleas were a first step but made clear they did not erase the seriousness of the crimes. He remanded Temple on bail until sentencing on August 29, warning the charges carry significant prison time.
The case is the latest in a series of criminal prosecutions exposing abuse at Gloriavale, where several senior members have already been jailed for sexual offending. The community has faced growing public scrutiny after years of allegations about its treatment of women and children.
Outside court, police urged anyone who has suffered abuse within the commune to contact them. “We know there are more victims out there,” a spokesperson said.
Temple left without speaking to reporters, supported by members of Gloriavale who attended the hearing. The court will hear more details of his offending when he is sentenced later this month.
The Paper 