The Ministry of Education has defended its decision to cancel Gloriavale Christian School's registration, telling the High Court at Wellington that the process was thorough and fair, not rushed as the community's lawyers claim. The judicial review, which wrapped up its second and final day on Tuesday, challenges the closure of the 80-student school on the West Coast.
Secretary for Education Ellen Macgregor-Reid has twice moved to shut the school over student safety concerns, first in December last year and again in September following a failed Education Review Office report that found the school was not a physically and emotionally safe place for students. The school remains open pending the legal challenge brought by its board.
Ministry Pushes Back on 'Rushed' Claims
Counsel for the ministry, Victoria Casey KC, disputed Gloriavale's position that the Secretary had only one day to consider relevant information before making her decision.
She had one working day and a weekend, and with respect the level of annotation throughout the entire report... doesn't support the submission that she didn't pay proper attention to it.
Casey said the entire process took five months, which was neither truncated nor unfair. That argument was rejected by Gloriavale's lawyer, Richard Raymond KC.
The two counsel also clashed over whether Macgregor-Reid's second decision to cancel the registration was a continuation of a process begun in 2025 or a fresh examination. Raymond argued the second review was a fresh look and that the Secretary missed crucial steps, such as issuing a notice to comply. Casey countered that a notice issued in July 2025 remained relevant and that the school was absolutely on notice about safety concerns, pointing to December's cancellation bid and an April letter to the board.
Disputed Information and Institutional Failure
Casey also challenged Gloriavale's request for the Court to correct the record regarding information provided to RNZ under the Official Information Act. The disputed information, reported by RNZ in June, concerned a letter from ERO to Oranga Tamariki expressing wellbeing concerns, including that Gloriavale's school knowingly employed staff with prior convictions unsuitable for work with children and that in at least one instance the school failed to act when behaviours placing students at risk were identified.
Gloriavale argued the information was false, but Casey said the Ombudsman rather than the Court was the appropriate place to raise such issues. Although the disputed information wasn't considered by the Secretary in her latest decision, Casey argued the substance of the concern was very real, citing a teacher's guilty plea to an historic assault and a recent complaint of an historic sexual assault committed by a staff member. She said ERO had concluded there was a pattern of institutional failure to act on known risks to children.
Raymond asserted that the board had acted appropriately in response to the recently surfaced allegation.
Board Claims 'Overuse of State Power'
Documents released to RNZ under the Official Information Act, reported by NZ Herald, detail the board's response to Macgregor-Reid's moves. In a letter to the Secretary on 14 November last year, the board said it was deeply concerned that the Ministry of Education's approach was legally flawed and procedurally unfair, and that the school's closure would be a disproportionate response. The board described the closure as an overuse of state power on a religious and cultural minority, according to Newstalk ZB.
The case raises difficult questions about the balance between state oversight and the rights of religious communities, a tension New Zealand has grappled with before. The Gloriavale community has faced years of scrutiny over its treatment of women and children, with former members speaking out about controlling practices and limited education. For many observers, the school closure is less about religious freedom and more about the state's duty to protect vulnerable young people.
What Happens Next
Justice Karen Grau thanked the parties for the quality of their interesting but dense submissions, warning the public gallery packed with Gloriavale supporters that her decision would take time. The Ministry of Education's application to lift the interim orders preventing the school's closure is to be considered at a later date.
For the families and students caught in the middle, the wait continues. The outcome will shape not only the future of Gloriavale's school but also how far the state can go in intervening when a community's practices collide with child safety standards. As New Zealand debates the limits of cultural and religious autonomy, this case sits at the sharp end of that conversation.
FAQ
Why is the Ministry of Education trying to close Gloriavale's school?
The Ministry has cited student safety concerns, following a failed Education Review Office report that found the school was not a physically and emotionally safe place for students.
What is the judicial review about?
The review challenges the Secretary for Education's decision to cancel the school's registration. Gloriavale's board argues the process was rushed and procedurally unfair, while the Ministry says it was thorough and fair.
When will the court decide?
Justice Karen Grau has not set a date, telling the court her decision will take time. The Ministry's application to lift interim orders will be considered later.