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Inside Gloriavale: The secretive life of women in NZ Christian 'cult'

A new documentary about a secretive New Zealand "cult" uncovers the openly submissive lifestyle of women in the fundamentalist Christian community.

The women of the Gloriavale society have the sole purpose of home duties and having babies while their husbands are at work. Picture: TVNZ
The women of the Gloriavale society have the sole purpose of home duties and having babies while their husbands are at work. Picture: TVNZ

The third documentary in the series reveals how the Gloriavale society, based in Haupiri, in the South Island, imposes strict rules and rituals that force young women into arranged marriages as part of "God's will".

"Gloriavale: A Woman’s Place", which aired on New Zealand's TVNZ last month, explores what life is like for the females in the society.

The film depicts the day-to-day lives of the God-fearing residents living in the isolated community.

It explores life inside the male-dominated sect, where women have only one purpose in life, to marry, maintain a house and have children.

Once young women finish school, they are made to spend their days cleaning the home, while they wait for a group of older men to determine who they will marry.

The community's men do more physical chores like building and working in factories, however a small few women train as teachers or midwives.

Dove Love, 22, receives a proposal from a man who is pleased his fiance has agreed to 'submit' to him. Picture: TVNZ
Dove Love, 22, receives a proposal from a man who is pleased his fiance has agreed to 'submit' to him. Picture: TVNZ


The sect's 500 residents are cut off from the outside world, and they are restricted in what they are allowed to eat and wear.

Marriages are arranged by community leaders and young women are expected to accept the proposals which are "God's will".

If they leave the community, they face being excommunicated.

Dove Love, 22, is a focus of the film, which follows her as she prepares for her marriage to 17-year-old builder Watchful Steadfast.

Women are expected to 'submit' to their husbands who have been 'chosen' by God. Picture: TVNZ
Women are expected to 'submit' to their husbands who have been 'chosen' by God. Picture: TVNZ

Her betrothed can be seen knocking on her door with a bunch of flowers and a marriage proposal, ahead of their wedding ceremony.

"She is willing to submit to me, which is very important," Mr Steadfast said.

A man who claimed to be the brother of Gloriavale resident Dove Love spoke out on New Zealand radio against what he claims to be a "cult" community, saying his sister did not want to marry but its leaders made her.

"I know that she didn't want to marry him. They're just told that it's God's will. Basically, anything the leaders say is God's will and they've got to do that or they're going to hell," The man known only as Jeremy, claimed on NZ Radio after the documentary aired.

Amanda Evans, who directed and produced the documentaries, said it was difficult to comprehend the life the Gloriavale people lived.

Dove Love and Watchful Steadfast at their wedding ceremony. Picture: TVNZ
Dove Love and Watchful Steadfast at their wedding ceremony. Picture: TVNZ

"I'm a liberated, middle-aged, educated, agnostic woman and I wouldn't want to live like that.

"But, at the same time, having been there and really gotten to know the community and really listened to what their values and beliefs are you can see how it makes those women very happy," she told the NZ Herald.

The sect is not new to controversy, as it emerged founder Hopefull Christian, formerly known as Neville Cooper, was convicted of indecent assault in the 1995.

However nearly all of the Gloriavale community don't believe it ever happened, according to a former resident.