Daniel Nicholson, a former member of the Gloriavale Christian community on New Zealand’s West Coast, has publicly criticized the recently aired documentary series *Devotion: The Gloriavale Story* for failing to fully represent the realities of life within the group. Nicholson, 25, who left Gloriavale at age 19 alongside his family, expressed disappointment that the three-part series did not adequately address ongoing issues within the community.

Gloriavale has a long history of controversy, marked by police investigations and allegations of sexual abuse dating back to the 1990s. The community’s founder, Neville Cooper, known as Hopeful Christian, was convicted and jailed for indecent assault, as was a former leader, Howard Temple. Nicholson, who was born Daniel Pilgrim on the commune’s grounds, is Cooper’s great-grandson.

Nicholson explained that his family’s departure stemmed from a gradual realization that Gloriavale’s values clashed with their own evolving beliefs. His father, then a senior figure in the community’s leadership, raised concerns via a letter to other Shepherds, which was reportedly dismissed bluntly, forcing the family to choose between silence or leaving.

The documentary, produced by Dame Julie Christie and NHNZ Internationals and screened on the New Zealand channel Three, incorporates interviews from various individuals inside and outside the community, as well as archival footage spanning five decades. The broadcaster stated that the series sought to present a range of perspectives without editorial commentary, allowing audiences to form their own judgments.

Despite this, Nicholson and other former members say the documentary glossed over or downplayed significant problems. Nicholson accused the program of misrepresenting facts and of allowing community leaders to deliver unchallenged narratives that “normalise” troubling behaviors. He urged viewers to approach the series critically and conduct broader research, pointing to other documentaries and reports that, in his view, offer a more accurate depiction of Gloriavale.

Another former member, Virginia Courage, also expressed concern that the documentary presented the community with a platform to improve its public image, warning that Gloriavale tends to frame itself simultaneously as both “saviour” and “victim,” thus complicating public understanding.

Nicholson highlighted systemic issues such as child labor and sexual abuse, which he says were understated in the series. He described childhood experiences involving dangerous work conditions, including tasks starting from as young as six years old, reflecting a broader pattern of exploitative labor within the community. He has been part of legal proceedings that found children in Gloriavale were subjected to labor laws violations.

The former member recounted attempts to visit family still living in Gloriavale, including a recent denial of access to see his sick grandmother, contradicting the documentary’s portrayal of family interactions. He remains settled in Timaru, working as a stonemason and business owner, and has launched an online food store that contributes a portion of proceeds to support people leaving the community.

While acknowledging that some apologies have been issued by Gloriavale leadership, Nicholson criticized these as primarily aimed at managing public perception rather than addressing the community’s systemic issues. He cautioned that viewers of the documentary should be aware of the broader context surrounding Gloriavale, including extensive reports of sex offenses linked to members, with over 20 men connected to the community having faced charges or convictions.

In his view, the documentary’s framing minimized the scale and severity of these problems, and he encouraged the public to critically assess all available information before drawing conclusions about Gloriavale.