A former Gloriavale member has told the Employment Court he saw a culture of victim blaming during his time at the community.
The leaders of the West Coast Christian community of Gloriavale deny the claims the women were employees. (File image) Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor and Virginia Courage are arguing their years of domestic work in the sect was as employees, rather than as volunteers.
Serenity Pilgrim's father, Isaac Pilgrim, was born and raised in the Christian community and made several explosive claims before chief judge Christina Inglis in Christchurch on Tuesday.
He was one of 49 witnesses providing evidence during the five-week hearing.
Gloriavale's leaders deny the claims that the women were employees or were under the absolute control of the Shepherds.
Isaac told the court when inappropriate behaviour occurred involving male members of the sect, the girl's reputation was "tarnished" in the eyes of leaders.
"They're usually labelled as whores and shamed in front of the community, even if nothing physical has occurred," he said.
"Even if the girl has done nothing wrong, but something has been discovered as inappropriate being done to her by a man, the girl's reputation is tarnished."
He alleged men would go unpunished in such instances.
Serenity told the court of having to apologise to 600 Gloriavale members if chores were not completed before breakfast was served.
These instances were described as "public shaming", her father said.
"There was a stage where everyone who was late, and they were often starting at 4 o'clock in the morning, had their name written up on the community noticeboard," he said.
"It was public shaming to everyone you had ever known in your whole life."
He was worried about his daughter's safety when she was working alone at Gloriavale.
Members were refused adequate dental care by Gloriavale leaders, he said.
Isaac alleged his wife Naomi was not allowed to see a dentist when she was having toothache problems because the sect could not afford it.
"So that tooth ended up abscessing underneath and had to come out," he said.
"Then the one beside it abscessed underneath and had to come out.
"Numerous times, the dentist said a root canal would save the tooth but Gloriavale told her 'we haven't got the money, you can't do it'."
Another former member of Gloriavale told the court of the "incredible pressure" to prepare meals for the entire community with only two others.
Pearl Valor is the second woman to argue years of domestic work in the sect was as employees, rather than as volunteers.
She told the court some days she and two others were loaded with meal preparation for hundreds of Gloriavale's members.
"That's the sort of thing that happened and happens now… three people cooking for the entire community," she said.
"It is an incredible amount of pressure."
Valor said she would work large hours and sometimes would not get a lunch break.
She will continue to give evidence tomorrow when proceedings resume.