Howard Temple outside court. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Gloriavale's leader has been named today as the man charged with sexual offending against girls over more than 20 years.
Details of Howard Temple's first court appearance last month were suppressed, but the suppression order has since lapsed.
More charges were added when he appeared in Greymouth District Court today. In total, Temple faces 14 charges of indecent assault and 13 charges of doing an indecent act.
Temple pleaded not guilty to all charges and has elected a judge alone trial.
The girls were aged between nine and 20 at the time of the alleged offending, between 1997 and 2022.
According to court documents, 21 of the charges were representative, meaning multiple offences of the same type were alleged to have been committed in similar circumstances.
Temple attempted to run from media as he approached the court building.
When asked about his charges, he replied "no comment".
During his court appearance, he sat quietly in the dock staring straight ahead, only speaking to thank the judge.
Temple is known inside Gloriavale as the Over-Seeing Shepherd, the Christian community's spiritual leader.
He was remanded on bail until his next court appearance.
Howard Temple was unwilling to answer questions from news media outside court. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon