'Devotion': New Gloriavale doco gains international praise for not taking sides

After more than a decade, Gloriavale’s famously secluded community has opened the doors again for a powerful new documentary series - and it’s already making waves overseas.

'Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal' gives an inside look at the controversial West Coast community, following criminal convictions of former members for historical physical and sexual abuse, as well as ongoing public scrutiny.

The three-part series features never-before-seen archival footage spanning 50 years, along with new interviews that explore how Gloriavale has evolved through decades of controversy.

"For the first time, members confront historical crimes and defend their right to a future shaped entirely by biblical teachings," a synopsis for the series reads.

"Inside the community, members describe Gloriavale as a place of purpose, spiritual conviction, and resilience... Beyond its boundaries, former members share a starkly different perspective – one marked by repression, family separation, and the emotional toll of life within Gloriavale."

Executive Producer Dame Julie Christie says gaining access took months of trust-building.

“I feel privileged that they ultimately agreed,” she says.

I believe the best documentaries present both sides and allow viewers to make up their own minds.

And that's exactly why it's already gaining traction internationally.

Popular TikToker, That Documentary Girl, has dubbed it “the best” coverage she’s seen on the topic of cults, giving props to the way it presents both sides without pushing a narrative.

“I love when a documentary interviews people from both sides, and they don’t interject their own opinion,” she said. “You just get to listen and decide for yourself what’s going on.”

US morning news show 'CBS Mornings' has also picked up a story on the series sharing a preview of the contrast we will see in the doco.

One man in the preview says, “There are a few different narratives. One of them is that Gloriavale is a wonderful place to live.”

It then cuts to another voice: “It’s a sex cult.”

The documentary also revisits familiar faces still living inside Gloriavale, including Dove Love and her husband Watchful Stedfast, and follows former members such as Paul Valor, who has since left the community.

Love says, “We don’t want to hide the truth of what’s happened, but it shouldn’t mean that we can’t live this life.”

I'm already invested in every angle this series is going to take.

The series is set to start premiering in NZ on Sunday, June 28 on Three and ThreeNow.