Scientology in New Zealand
Scientology has been established in New Zealand since 1955[1] and the Auckland organisation was the second Church of Scientology established in the world.
The 2006 census recorded 357 people affiliated to the Church of Scientology.[2][3] The 2013 census showed 315 people identified with Scientology, and 321 in the 2018 census.[4][5] The Church claims that it has 3500-5000 followers, with 30,000 being involved with the Church of Scientology since it was established in 1955.[6][7]
The church is registered as a charity and Inland Revenue Department has granted charitable status to the church for tax purposes.[8][9]
History
Scientology was introduced to New Zealand by Frank Turnbull, who in 1953 flew from Christchurch to Philadelphia to study as a Scientologist.[10] Whilst there, he met L. Ron Hubbard and was ordained the "Scientology Bishop of Oceania."[10][11]
Dumbleton–Powles Report
In 1968 a petition with 716 signatures called upon the Parliament of New Zealand to set up a board of inquiry into Scientology. The Commission of Inquiry into the Hubbard Scientology organisation in New Zealand issued public notice that it would hear evidence in Auckland and Wellington in March and April 1969. The commission aimed to "hear about and examine cases where it is said that Scientology has in New Zealand led to the estrangement of families, affected the control of persons under 21, or put unreasonable pressure upon former Scientologists who have left it, or other persons".[12]
After hearing evidence, the Commission found against Scientology, concluding that "the activities, methods, and practices of Scientology did result in persons being subjected to improper or unreasonable pressures".[13] However, on receiving assurances that Scientology would change its practices, the Commission recommended that - subject to those assurances - no immediate action be taken against Scientology.
The findings were published as the Dumbleton–Powles Report, authored by E.V. Dumbleton and Sir Guy Richardson Powles, and published on 30 June 1969.[14]
Whitecliffe Campus
In 2007, the Church of Scientology bought the heritage-listed Grafton building, formerly Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design for ten million dollars.[15] It has been reported that the Church spent a further six million dollars on renovations.[16][17] The building was opened on 21 January 2017 by David Miscavige.[16]
Controversies
In 2008 a protest against the church as part of Project Chanology was held in some parts of New Zealand by "Anonymous", a world-wide group that has concerns about internet censorship by Scientologists.[18]
In 2012, it was reported that the Church of Scientology was receiving government grants to publish and distribute anti-drug pamphlets, and run rehabilitative services. The head of the New Zealand Drug Foundation called their practices "quackery" and disapproved of the Church getting this funding.[19]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand the Church of Scientology distributed 50,000 pamphlets in Auckland called Stay Well which were branded in similar colours to the New Zealand Government's COVID-19 branding. This led to some criticism, with some accusing the Church of capitalising on the pandemic to distribute religious material for their organisation in a deceptive manner.[20] However, the Church of Scientology defended their pamphlet and distribution, saying that they had used this branding before the pandemic had started and that the pamphlet was clearly labelled as a Scientology publication [21]
See also
References
- ^ "THE DUMBLETON - POWLES REPORT: PART II". www.xenu.net. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ Statistics New Zealand: QuickStats About Culture and Identity, Table 28:Religious Affiliation
- ^ 2006 New Zealand Religioud Affiliation Data (XLS file) Archived 2013-11-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2013 Census totals by topic – tables". Statistics New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand. 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013.
- ^ "Most common religious affiliations in New Zealand". Figure.NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ Wall, Tony (10 February 2008). "The Faith Business". Sunday Star Times.
- ^ "Q+A: Kiwi Scientologist". RNZ. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Church of Scientology in Auckland: Religious Charity Status". www.scientologytoday.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2003.
- ^ charities.govt.nz
- ^ a b Farrier, David (22 January 2017). "David Farrier: My secret life as a Scientologist". Stuff. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "THE ANDERSON REPORT: CHAPTER 15". www.cs.cmu.edu. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Hubbard Scientology Organisation in New Zealand".
- ^ "Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Hubbard Scientology Organisation in New Zealand".
- ^ "Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Hubbard Scientology Organisation in New Zealand". 3 February 1969. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Scientology's multi-million dollar HQ". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Church of Scientology's supreme leader David Miscavige in Auckland for opening of new headquarters". Stuff. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "An inside look at Auckland's new Church of Scientology". New Zealand Herald. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ Wall, Tony (16 March 2008). "Protesters bid to unmask Scientology". Sunday Star Times. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
- ^ "Mainstream funding in NZ for Scientology?". RNZ. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Auckland shops 'deceived' into handing out Scientology booklets, mistaking them for official COVID-19 pamphlets". Newshub. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Scientology's Covid-19 pamphlets look like New Zealand government advice". South China Morning Post. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
External links
- Church of Scientology of New Zealand
- Church of Scientology of New Zealand (Auckland)
- RehabilitateNZ - a promotional site for the Church of Scientology of New Zealand
- The Dumbleton-Powles Report
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practices
- Abortion
- Auditing
- Books
- Bridge
- Clear
- Dianetics
- Dianetics (book)
- Disconnection
- E-meter
- Engram
- Ethics and justice
- Glossary
- Implant
- Incident
- Keeping Scientology Working
- Marcab Confederacy
- Marriage
- MEST
- Operating Thetan
- OT VIII
- Reactive mind
- Scientology and religious groups
- Reincarnation
- Sec Check
- Sex
- Silent birth
- Space opera
- Study Technology
- Thetan
- Training routines
- Xenu
controversies
- Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act
- Books critical of Scientology
- Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia
- Clearwater Hearings
- Death of Elli Perkins
- Death of Kaja Ballo
- Death of Lisa McPherson
- Fair game
- Fishman Affidavit
- Guardian's Office operations
- Keith Henson
- The Internet
- Operation Clambake
- Operation Freakout
- Operation Snow White
- Project Chanology
- Project Normandy
- R2-45
- Psychiatry
- Scientology and Me
- Scientology as a business
- The Secrets of Scientology
- Suppressive person
- Tax status in the US
- "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power"
- Timeline
- Hubbard v Vosper
- United States v. Hubbard
- X. and Church of Scientology v. Sweden
- Church of Scientology v. Sweden
- Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology
- Hernandez v. Commissioner
- New Era Publications International ApS v. Carol Publishing Group and Jonathan Caven-Atack
- Church of Scientology of California v. Armstrong
- R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto
- Church of Scientology Intl. v. Fishman and Geertz
- Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto
- Religious Technology Center v Lerma
- Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc.
- Church of Scientology Intl. v. Time Warner, Inc., et al.
- Arenz, Röder and Dagmar v. Germany
- Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia
- Cadet Org
- Celebrity Centre
- Church of Scientology
- Church of Scientology International
- Church of Spiritual Technology
- Founding Church of Scientology
- Golden Era Productions
- Hubbard Association of Scientologists International
- International Association of Scientologists
- Office of Special Affairs
- Religious Technology Center
- Rehabilitation Project Force
- Scientology Missions International
- Sea Org
- L. Ron Hubbard
- Mary Sue Hubbard
- David Miscavige
- Shelly Miscavige
- Bob Adams
- John Carmichael
- Tommy Davis
- Jessica Feshbach
- David Gaiman
- Leisa Goodman
- Heber Jentzsch
- Kendrick Moxon
- Karin Pouw
- Mark Rathbun
- Mike Rinder
- Michelle Stith
- Kurt Weiland
organizations
and recruitment
- Association for Better Living and Education
- Applied Scholastics
- Celebrities
- Citizens Commission on Human Rights
- Concerned Businessmen's Association of America
- Criminon
- Cult Awareness Network
- The Delphian School
- Free Zone
- Front groups
- Moxon & Kobrin
- Narconon
- New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project
- Oxford Capacity Analysis
- Safe Environment Fund
- Second Chance Program
- Trademarks
- Volunteer Ministers
- The Way to Happiness
- World Institute of Scientology Enterprises
- Youth for Human Rights International
culture
- Ali's Smile: Naked Scientology
- Being Tom Cruise
- Bowfinger
- The Bridge
- Going Clear
- film
- Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
- My Scientology Movie
- The Master
- The Profit
- South Park
- "A Token of My Extreme"
- A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant
- We Stand Tall
- Wikibooks
- Wikimedia Commons
- Wikinews
- Wikiquote
- Wikisource
- Wikiversity
- Wiktionary
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