^{New Zealand! 2026} Four charged after 100km pursuit across Waikato following Thames robbery, Officer hit by bottle as 1000 youths clash with police in Coromandel holiday spots, ‘Utterly appalling’: Outrage as Gloriavale sex offender Howard Temple seen at market

Disgraced former Gloriavale leader and convicted sex offender Howard Temple has sparked outrage by attending a community market less than a month after he was sentenced to more than two years in prison.

The 85-year-old was then released on bail hours later pending an appeal.

His attendance at the Moana market today on the West Coast has “disgusted” members of the public, former Gloriavale members and families of his victims.

Last year Temple pleaded guilty to 12 charges of sex offending against six girls over a period of 20 years.

The charges spanned more than 20 years and were described by Judge Raoul Neave as “excruciating” for the victims.

On December 12, Judge Neave sentenced Temple to 26 months behind bars.

Within minutes of decision being handed down Temple’s lawyer Michael Vesty filed an appeal in the High Court.

A judge then granted his elderly client bail pending that appeal.

It is understood that his bail conditions stipulate that he is to live at a property owned by Gloriavale away from the main site.

Before his sentencing his conditions stated he could return to the grounds of the community to work at commercial business and attend worship meetings.

Temple was photographed around midday by a member of the public.

The woman said she is friends with a number of former Gloriavale members and was “appalled” to see Temple at the market.

“It is absolutely abhorrent – regardless of what his bail conditions are, the optics are absolutely terrible,” she said.

“It is utterly appalling – he was jailed for indecently assaulting young girls.

“It is very unlikely someone like that would offend in that situation, but the impact of seeing someone like him there would have on any of his victims or people who have left Gloriavale is huge.”

The woman said, in her opinion, Temple’s presence at the marked demonstrated he felt he could just do what he wanted. She said she felt “disgusted” by it.

The woman was alerted to Temple’s attendance by a friend who is related to one of the victims.

“My friend who is staying with me saw him and told me she went into panic mode seeing him,” the victim’s relative said.

The woman who took the photo approached a current member of Gloriavale and asked him what he thought about Temple attending the market.

“I said to him that Howard Temple was jailed for sexual offending and that the optics were terrible … he said ‘no he wasn’t’,” she said.

“I said that he was jailed and then released on bail and was currently a convicted offender. He said ‘but he didn’t indecently assault people … there’s what the court says, and then there’s the truth’.

“I said, ‘okay, well, we’re not going to agree on that, buddy’. I told him that he can believe what he wants, but at the end of the day, having Temple there makes people really uncomfortable.

“The police said he’s allowed to be there if he had an adult supervisor – but still.”

A spokesperson said police would not comment on the situation.

The Herald has reached out to Temple’s lawyer.

An officer was hit by a bottle after police attempted to break up an unruly crowd of about 1000 youths in Whangamatā last night.

Eight youths were arrested after fireworks were fired at people and officers were physically obstructed as they tried to intervene.

Eastern Waikato Area Commander, Inspector Mike Henwood, said at about 10.30pm officers were called to Williamson Park in the Coromandel Peninsula town.

As police attempted to disperse the crowd, bottles were lobbed at the officers. One officer was hit, but was not injured.

Fireworks were also being fired into the crowd of people.

Henwood said repeated instructions given over a loudhailer to leave the park were ignored by those gathered, forcing officers to intervene and move the crowd on.

In nearby Pāuanui, police encountered another large group of about 300 youth near the Surf Club Reserve.

While officers were arresting a person for lighting fireworks in a dangerous manner, a number of those present became physically obstructive, further escalating the situation.

Seven youths were arrested in Whangamatā and one in Pāuanui.

Henwood said after relatively quiet New Year’s celebrations, this behaviour was disappointing.

“Not only does this behaviour put my team at risk – it also puts other attending youth at risk.

“New Year’s Eve heading into New Year’s morning was particularly uneventful, with most people celebrating the New Year in a safe and orderly manner.

“It is disappointing that after a good night, it is then ruined by intoxicated youth in denial that New Year’s is over.”

Henwood said police continue to urge anyone who witnesses antisocial or dangerous behaviour of any kind to make a report of the incident immediately by calling 111.

“It’s great that people want to come and enjoy our Coromandel beaches over the summer period, and we encourage everyone to celebrate the New Year – but it needs to be done in a safe and respectful manner,” Henwood said.