Hehir reveals another cult
Liam Hehir writes:
There is, in New Zealand, a certain powerful, tightly controlled organisation. It has secretive membership numbers, opaque finances and a history of safeguarding and other scandals. It boasts strong connections at the highest levels of New Zealand public life.
Its followers, who include a number of former government ministers and current opposition figures, meet regularly. They are expected to adhere to internal discipline. Dissent is discouraged and an exclusive loyalty enforced.
We know there are at least 500 members, but there’s no way to know how many more. It’s probably in the thousands. We just don’t know. It’s a closely guarded secret.
To become one of the group’s elect, members must first submit to a formal pledge ceremony. This isn’t symbolic. The individual must sign a formal document to uphold the group’s principles, in front of two verified insiders. Only then can they be considered for advancement. Upon elevation, they are required to strictly adhere to the organisation’s programme in public, regardless of conscience or private concerns.1
Its members are known to go door-to-door in pairs, engaging strangers with a pre-prepared message. They keep record of these encounters. They return if you don’t give a firm answer. If they’ve ever knocked on your door, there is a good chance they have notes about you.
Cults of personality abound. Former leaders are sometimes revered figures whose very images are sometimes displayed as sacred icons. On occasion, this even extends to the current leader. Merchandise bearing the visage of the leader may be available.2
When leaders fall from grace, of course, history is quietly revised.
Despite its stated values of fairness and inclusion, the organisation has been repeatedly implicated in scandal:
- A senior figure in the group was convicted on bribery and corruption charges, including exploiting vulnerable migrants for personal gain.3
- A member was convicted of using forged documents during the 2010 local government elections.4
- In one case, young foreign volunteers were brought to New Zealand and housed in what they described as overcrowded, makeshift accommodation while being used for unpaid work.5
- In another, teenagers attending a group camp were exposed to harm in a night that included drinking. Parents were not promptly informed. Neither were the police. An investigation was conducted by the organisation did not release the full report.6
- The organisation then went on to mishandle accusations of misconduct in and around the offices of its highest leaders. Under public pressure, a review occurred but, again, without full and complete public disclosure.7
Time and time again, we have seen the organisation exhibit a culture of investigations being handled internally or outsourced under tight conditions.
And yet, despite these red flags, this shadowy organisation has wielded significant influence over the machinery of government, with its members having held senior roles across public life, including in education, health and the justice system.
The secretive group is known variously as “The Party,” and “The Broad Church.” But its formal name is “The New Zealand Labour Party.”
DPF: I await the breathless media articles on this cult.