The executive producer of a new documentary about Gloriavale is hoping it will create change for the people still living inside the West Coast commune.
Escaping Utopia is a new documentary starting tonight on TVNZ1 tonight, which has unprecedented access to Gloriavale’s inner workings, the unravelling of its leadership, and the pursuit of justice by the Gloriavale Leavers’ Trust.
For decades Gloriavale has faced allegations of abuse, human rights violations, and fraud. The Employment Court last year ruled the Overseeing Shepherd at Gloriavale was the employer of six women fighting for workers' rights, potentially paving the way for financial compensation.
Executive producer Philippa Rennie told 1News that it’s taken two years to piece together the three-part show.
Escaping Utopia has unprecedented access to Gloriavale’s inner workings, the unravelling of its leadership, and the pursuit of justice by the Gloriavale Leavers’ Trust. (Source: 1News)
She said it was important to build meaningful relationships to allow people to feel comfortable telling their stories, which is “at the heart of this documentary series”.
It reveals the careful planning involved in clandestine escapes from the fundamentalist Christian sect, which Rennie said came as a shock.
“What we uncovered was this remarkable group of people, an ever-growing group who were committed to helping these people who wanted to leave or were thinking about leaving.
“These people come out like refugees because they have absolutely nothing.
“No passports, no bank accounts, none of the daily things that any functioning adult in society would have and I think that just speaks to the level of power and control that these people are living under.”
Rennie said while the documentary makers did speak with the Overseeing Shepherd Howard Temple, “who even showed them around a little bit, it was a pretty quick ‘no’”.
“We do have access to Gloriavale residents at the time we started and then we follow them as they make the move and leave Gloriavale.
“It’s more than the physical barrier of not being able to leave, it’s the psychological barrier.”
While there have been multiple investigations and court cases, Rennie hoped Escaping Utopia would compel more significant action to deliver justice.
“Every single person that’s contributed to the documentary, we are so grateful for their involvement that they have allowed us to tell these stories.
“It’s just been a real privilege and we really can’t wait for New Zealand to see the truth about what’s happening in Gloriavale,” said Rennie.
Escaping Utopia premieres tonight at 8.30pm on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, and continues Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26.
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