$100k payout over church harassment

The Anglican church has accepted it is responsible for priests who sexually harass or abuse parishioners after a landmark settlement in the Human Rights Review Tribunal. The settlement is the first time the church has acknowledged its priests are covered by human rights law in New Zealand.

Until now, it claimed clergy were not employees of the church, but ‘‘agents of God’’, and therefore the church could not be held responsible for their actions.

The settlement includes a $100,000 compensation payment to the victim in the case, who was sexually harassed by Blenheim priest Michael van Wijk in counselling sessions after losing a baby in pregnancy in 2005.

Van Wijk was originally allowed to resign from the church but was stripped of his ordination in 2018.

The payment is among the highest ever made for sexual harassment in New Zealand.

In an apology made public yesterday, the church said the case would change the way Anglican priests are vetted, trained and supervised across New Zealand and Polynesia. It would also bolster its complaints process.

The apology accepts the church knew about van Wijk’s conduct in early 2005 and had received a full written complaint in June that year, but did not think it was sexual harassment, minimised and excused the behaviour.

It apologised for not informing police despite having received a complaint from a separate parishioner about van Wijk’s behaviour.

It also apologised for failing to support the complainant and her family afterwards, while giving ‘‘significant’’ support to van Wijk and his family.

The complainant went to police in 2014 but charges were never laid. She then took a case with the Office of Human Rights Proceedings in 2016.

The Director of Human Rights Proceedings, Michael Timmins, praised the complainant for her ‘‘strength, intelligence and tenacity’’.

‘‘She should be applauded for her efforts,’’ Timmins said.

‘‘Sexual harassment is a significant issue for this country. It can no longer be swept under the carpet.

‘‘The amount of the settlement figure and its publication acknowledges this and sends a strong message that it will not be condoned.’’