Gloriavale leader accused of touching girls as young as nine

Gloriavale leader Howard Temple has been accused of touching girls as young as nine on their legs, backs, and bottoms.

The 85-year-old is facing 24 charges of indecent assault against nine female complainants at the Greymouth District Court. Three further charges were withdrawn.

The offending was alleged to have taken place between 1998 and 2022, when the complainants were aged between nine and 20. Temple has pleaded not guilty.

Crown prosecutor Kerry White told the court that primary school-aged girls would be rostered to serve drinks in the morning and for meals at night.

"While the girls would stand close to the defendant and serve him his drink or food, the defendant would take the opportunity to touch a complainant's body, such as her leg or legs, her bottom, her inner thigh, or rub her side and lower back," the Crown alleged.

As the girls got older, they would be rostered in the kitchen, where it was alleged that Temple would approach them from behind, and kiss their necks, and touch their bottoms and waist.

The court heard that while in the bathroom, Temple had put his arm over a 16-year-old girl’s shoulder and grabbed her breast.

Defence counsel Michael Vesty said his client denies that any of the alleged conduct was indecent, and he had no sexual motivation.

He said Temple outright denied touching a girl’s breast.

"Mr Temple accepts that he showed affection, including physical contact such as hugs, that were often reciprocated, or an arm around the waist.

"He accepts that he made comments expressing care and support as he showed affection in this way.

"Mr Temple accepts that in the dining hall he would acknowledge the work of various complainants and many others doing the same task with an affectionate hug.

"However, this would be when he was asking them how their day was or telling them that they were loved any contact was very brief," Vesty said.

The judge-alone trial was expected to last two weeks.