Howard Temple, Gloriavale's Overseeing Shepherd. Photo: The Press/Kai Schwoerer
A former Gloriavale member says scores of letters sent to her by the community's leader were part of a pattern of inappropriate behaviour.
Gloriavale's Overseeing Shepherd, Howard Temple, is on trial in the Greymouth District Court on 24 representative charges of sexual offending against nine girls and young women over more than two decades.
The complainant, who has name suppression, was a teenager at the time.
She said Temple sent frequent letters while he was in India setting up another community, often addressing her as his favourite girlfriend.
But Temple's lawyer's Michael Vesty said the letters showed genuine pastoral concern.
Temple denies the offending. The case is set down for two weeks.
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