A former Gloriavale resident who was used as unpaid child labour says it time government agencies went into the closed fundamentalist Christian community, opened their eyes and did their job.
In landmark decision this week the employment court has ruled that three other former residents of the commune were employees from age six, doing strenuous difficult and sometimes danger work.
Work that included 3am starts and more than 12-hour shifts that could not be explained away as childhood chores or voluntary work.
All unpaid, with some children allegedly physically punished or denied food for not working hard or fast enough.
Gloriavale leavers feel let down by government agencies including the Labour Inspectorate, which twice found that community residents were volunteers.
Aaron Courage who left Gloriavale ten years ago says he was viciously beaten for not working fast enough and he's worried for several siblings aged between 5 and 17 still living there.
