Escaping Utopia TV -
[victim]: I can’t remember sleeping more than four hours a night ever. I didn’t know it was a thing. Off to work again … It’s just all about control. Escaping Utopia s1e1, BBC 2025
Cross this bridge and you’ve lost your soul. You’re going to hell … I have a duty to do something about it. ibid. victim #2 exiled
50 years ago an Australian preacher began recruiting members to create his vision of heaven on Earth. Today, in a remote part of New Zealand, 600 people live in the closeted Christian sect known as Gloriaville. ibid. captions
The leaders tell you what you should think. ibid. victim #2
Soft gentle women, they are. ibid. preacher
We asked the underground network [inc #2 exiled] to smuggle a message inside Gloriaville. ibid.
I had sexually abusive things happen to me in the past. ibid. Boaz
I was told to inform on people, and if I did, I could stay. ibid.
Gloriaville Leavers’ Support Trust HQ: I feel this is what I’ve been called to do. ibid. rescuer #1
We’ve had contact connected and contact with at least 250 leavers over the past 10 years. ibid.
A large number of the Gloriaville community will be in the public gallery in Greymouth this week. 6 former Gloriaville women have taken action claiming to be employees in the Gloriaville community, not volunteers. ibid. news
In this landmark case, Gloriaville’s treatment of women and girls will be scrutinised for the first time in its 50 years of existence. 17 former members will testify against Gloriaville. 26 current members will testify for Gloriaville. ibid. captions
There was an attempt at some form of social justice in the early stages of the community. ibid. victim
You actually lost your identity of who you are. ibid.
He [founder] ended up with a godlke status. ibid. victim #2
I found out about some of this weird sexual activity that was going on. ibid. Melanie Reid
We had to watch my mum and dad have sex. Escaping Utopia s1e2, victim
I did understand what hell it would be if you tried to leave. ibid. Reid
It was like being in your own bloody thriller. ibid.
Dozens of police raided two South Island Christian communities shortly after dawn this morning. They were acting on complains of former members. ibid. TV news
A jury has found Cooper guilty of 10 of the 11 charges of sexual assault. ibid.
It’s astonishing that he did such a short time in prison. ibid. Reid
There are approximately 350 children under the age of 16. ibid. caption
The [employment] court case is causing ripples inside Gloriaville as current members hear former members’ harrowing testimonies. ibid.
[consults court papers]: All this abuse, there’s just so much of it. It makes me feel sick. ibid. Reid
92-year-old Hopeful Christian is reported to have died. ibid. news
Women are like the men’s objects for sex. Escaping Utopia s1e3, victim
Five years after he first contemplated leaving, early this morning Boaz and his family finally fled Gloriavale. ibid. caption
She looked lifeless, like she was just surviving. Ibid. Theo/Honey visits sister in India
Six months after leaving and Boaz is still untangling the truth about his childhood in Gloriavale. And the secrets within his own family. ibid. caption
This landmark ruling paves the way for monumental changes to the way Gloriaville has operated for over fifty years. ibid.
Current members will now have to be paid for their work along with overtime, breaks and holidays. ibid.