The religious sect is believed to have about 2500 members and 60 ministers in New Zealand. Photo: 123RF
WARNING: This story includes content that may be disturbing.
Police have received two more complaints of abuse within a secretive sect known as the Two by Twos.
The FBI is investigating the sect for historical child sexual abuse, and two Northland men have already appeared in court over historic sex offences.
Police confirmed they received two new complaints in the last three weeks.
They would not say whether the alleged abuse was recent or historic, or where in New Zealand it was said to have happened.
Police this week told RNZ 27 New Zealand-based people were identified as potential complainants.
"The purpose of making contact was to ensure anyone who may want to make a complaint has an appropriate avenue through which to do so, or so that any required support can be provided. "
Of those 27 people, 10 had already made reports to police.
Police said offenders had been convicted in two of those cases.
Police contacted the remaining 17 people to see if they wanted to make a complaint.
"Police have commenced several investigations as a result," a spokesperson said.
In December a former minister of the Two by Twos, Bill Easton was jailed for 13 years after pleading guilty to 55 charges of abusing six boys between the 1960s and 1980s.
Judge Brandt Shortland described his offending as "unprecedented".
Another man, who has name suppression, is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty in February to 12 charges of indecent assault, two of performing an indecent act and one each of sodomy and bestiality.
The four complainants were boys aged between 12 and 16 when the alleged incidents occurred in the 1970s and 80s.
A hallmark of the Christian sect, which has no official name but is known as The Truth or the Two by Twos, is that its itinerant ministers travel in pairs and stay in members' homes.
It is believed to have about 2500 members and 60 ministers in New Zealand.
Where to get help:
- Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
- Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
- Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
- Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
- What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
- Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
- Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
- Healthline: 0800 611 116.
- Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
- OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Sexual Violence
- NZ Police.
- Victim Support 0800 842 846.
- Rape Crisis: 0800 88 33 00.
- Rape Prevention Education.
- Empowerment Trust.
- HELP (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655.
- Safe to talk: 0800 044 334.
- Tautoko Tāne Male Survivors Aotearoa.
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496.
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