Arise Church will pay more than $170,000 to four former interns after an investigation found they had been employees rather than volunteers while working on the megachurch's internship programme.
The church agreed to pay $173,869.56 in arrears under a consent determination issued by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA). The Labour Inspectorate will distribute the money to the four former interns.
As part of the agreement, Arise accepted the way it ran parts of the programme at the time meant the interns had been employees. It also acknowledged it had breached minimum employment standards as a result and apologised to the four.
Founding pastor John Cameron has reached a separate agreement with the inspectorate, accepting he was a person involved in the breaches, and has also apologised. The ERA has yet to issue a consent determination in his case.
Both the church and Cameron have accepted that penalties are appropriate. The ERA will now decide those penalties.
Labour Inspectorate specialist inspection manager Jeanie Borsboom said the outcome showed why workers needed to receive the entitlements they were legally owed.
"This is a significant outcome for the former interns involved and reflects the Labour Inspectorate's commitment to upholding minimum employment standards.
"In this case, our investigation found that the relationship between Arise Church and the four former interns was one of employment."
Former interns of ARISE mega church say they have felt forced to work on the church pastors' properties on their days off. (Source: 1News)
The inspectorate began investigating in 2022 after receiving a complaint about the internship programme. Inspectors examined the arrangements for people taking part and assessed the real nature of the relationship between the interns and the church.
Wellington-based Arise came under scrutiny in April 2022, when former interns and volunteers told 1News they had been left "burned out" by the church, and that they had been shut down when they raised concerns. Some interns also alleged they had felt forced to work on pastors' properties on their days off. Journalist David Farrier also investigated the church.
Cameron stepped aside from his pastoral duties that month, and he and Gillian Cameron, the church's founders and lead pastors, resigned in May 2022.
'Deeply sad and truly sorry' - Arise Church
In a letter to its "church family" posted on its website last Thursday, the Arise Church board said it had agreed it "fell short" and included its apology to the interns.
"We deeply regret that you placed trust in a church community and experienced hurt and disappointment as a result. This likely affected your relationship and trust in church and even in God. This is tragic and for this we are deeply sad and truly sorry."
The board said it had scrapped the internship model and made "substantial changes" to its governance, leadership and HR policies in recent years. The changes include a joint leadership model that pairs senior pastors with a general manager, and a spiritual advisory panel the congregation can approach.
"In short, while our beliefs and mission have not changed, the way we operate has changed significantly."
Former interns of ARISE mega church say they have felt forced to work on the church pastors' properties on their days off. (Source: 1News)
Borsboom said the case served as a reminder for organisations that relied on volunteers, interns or trainees.
"Internship and volunteer programmes can provide valuable opportunities, but organisations must carefully consider whether the circumstances surrounding the work being performed creates an employment relationship."
She said the inspectorate would not comment further while the matter remained before the ERA.
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