‘Teaching them to be frightened’The main focus of Operation Moonshine related to allegations of parents smothering their children to prevent them from crying. Photo / NZMEKey to Operation Moonshine, which involved police and Oranga Tamariki (OT) investigators, were allegations that Gloriavale parents thought it was acceptable to block the airways of crying infants and children. “If they are not happy and enthusiastic about the interview but go ahead with it because they should, that by definition is not consent,” the Gloriavale representative told police. The Gloriavale representative also questioned why police were involving those who had left Gloriavale in the investigation. The Gloriavale representative was also worried that if members admitted behaviour which contravened the law, they would be charged.
