Oranga Tamariki took several months to address an Education Review Office (ERO) letter that highlighted “serious and immediate concerns” regarding children at Gloriavale. The delay was due to the letter being sent to a former staff member’s unmonitored inbox.
Ruth Shinoda, the then-acting chief executive of ERO, sent the letter to Oranga Tamariki’s chief executive Andrew Bridgman on December 17. This followed a special review of homeschooling among 28 families in the West Coast Christian commune.
In the letter, Shinoda outlined significant safety and wellbeing concerns, noting that Gloriavale’s school employed staff with prior convictions unsuitable for child-related work and failed to act on risky behaviors identified in students.
Documents released to RNZ under the Official Information Act revealed that the Ministry for Children did not respond until June 8. The email, initially sent by Shinoda’s executive assistant, remained unread in an unmonitored inbox until Shinoda followed up with the new chief executive, Amanda Malu, on March 9.
Internal emails from March 10 show senior Oranga Tamariki staff treating the matter urgently upon discovering the oversight. They noted that the email was sent to a former staffer’s address without any action taken or out-of-office notification received.
In her response on June 8 to Tim Fowler, the new acting chief executive of ERO, Malu acknowledged the delay but did not deem an additional investigation necessary. She stated she had reviewed the concerns with chief social worker Nicolette Dickson, who had previously met with ERO to discuss these issues.
Malu emphasized that the concerns in Shinoda’s letter were already part of an ongoing cross-government response to Gloriavale. She invited ERO to provide any new information through the “report of concern process” and included contact details for Oranga Tamariki.
She further ensured that the concerns raised would be communicated to the wider interagency group, highlighting that Oranga Tamariki support was available for any child safety and wellbeing matters.
In Shinoda’s December communication, she described ERO’s identification of “serious and immediate concerns” in educational settings, relating to child protection and systemic failures. A 2025 homeschooling review amplified these concerns, pointing to risks beyond educational quality, such as inadequate safeguarding and oversight.
Key issues included overcrowded hostels, housing instability, and a lack of consistent child protection policies. These findings prompted questions about the adequacy of the current child welfare arrangements.
Oranga Tamariki’s national commissioner south, Arihia Bennett, stated the agency’s commitment to an integrated response to ensure child safety at Gloriavale, involving collaboration with partner agencies and the community.
Bennett highlighted a holistic approach to providing support while respecting privacy constraints.
Oranga Tamariki’s records showed a meeting with ERO on November 11, during which they addressed earlier concerns before receiving Shinoda’s letter. ERO had requested confirmation of receipt but did not specify if a response was sought before March 9.
A spokesperson for ERO confirmed ongoing collaboration with Oranga Tamariki on broader issues and specific concerns, noting the privacy of homeschool families limited further comment.
The agency’s special review concluded that Gloriavale parents weren’t adhering to legal homeschooling requirements. Of 103 children’s homeschooling provisions reviewed, 96 didn’t meet the standards of a registered school, while assessments for seven children were pending due to recent exemptions.
ERO found over half of the children were learning in overcrowded hostels with inadequate access to basic amenities, and some families expressed concerns about their children’s safety.
The Ministry of Education plans to visit Gloriavale homeschooling families in the coming weeks.
Last December, the secretary for education decided to cancel the registration of Gloriavale Christian School, citing its failure to provide a safe environment for students.
Letters obtained by RNZ noted concerns from various stakeholders about the school, including its role in indoctrinating children and maintaining a caste system. Issues such as restricted educational progression for teenagers and lack of support for victims and abusers were highlighted.
Despite these concerns, the school remains operational due to a High Court challenge, with a judicial review scheduled for October.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care recommended that the government take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of children and adults at Gloriavale.
