An abridged version of the letter follows:
We can state categorically that child labour is no longer used in the commercial activities of any of our businesses.
Our health and safety policies are now fully aligned with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions on child labour. Gloriavale is actively engaged with all relevant regulatory authorities to ensure their ongoing oversight.
We have been independently reviewed by multiple government departments and agencies, and we welcome any further evaluations and recommendations. We also welcome any audit of our policies, procedures, practices and workplaces.
Our health and safety policy now does not permit children to enter our commercial business sites and our school's work transition programme was ended last year so that our teenage children could continue with their senior education.
Like thousands of other rural New Zealand families, we involved our children in the day-to-day practices of farm life with the intention of providing them opportunities to learn alongside us and gain life experience.
Gloriavale remains the only home that most of those who live here have ever known, so any commercial boycott of Gloriavale's operations will have a significant impact on hundreds of lives. Gloriavale also indirectly supports the livelihoods of the employees and families of a great many service businesses throughout the West Coast region.
