1 News’ framing of the Two By Twos investigations as old, dusty history is flat-out wrong! The NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB have now reported on 27 fresh allegations of child sexual abuse sparking “several” active criminal probes, with police working alongside the FBI’s global dragnet. These aren’t faded Polaroids from the ‘80s; they’re recent crimes, with survivors still coming forward. By slapping the “historical” tag on this, 1 News was trying to sanitise a living nightmare, and it reeks of a calculated move to protect Campbell, the Ilam MP who still hasn’t come clean about his involvement in the secretive "religious" sect.
Here's the once-over lightly followup report by 1 News after the fact:
Police speaking with former members of sect with no official name
...
A secretive sect under investigation by New Zealand Police for abuse says fellowship is voluntary, and members are free to leave if they wish.
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“The coercion and the control that there is over people. People don't realise it's happening to them until you take a step back,” said the woman.
New Zealand Police have contacted 27 alleged victims of sexual abuse in the church, with 10 individuals filing reports.
A police spokesperson said two offenders have been convicted.
A secretive sect under investigation by New Zealand Police for abuse says fellowship is voluntary, and members are free to leave if they wish.
…
“The coercion and the control that there is over people. People don't realise it's happening to them until you take a step back,” said the woman.
New Zealand Police have contacted 27 alleged victims of sexual abuse in the church, with 10 individuals filing reports.
A police spokesperson said two offenders have been convicted.
For over a year, Campbell played dumb, muttering about a loose “family connection” to the Two By Twos while dodging questions. Only when the Herald turned up the heat did he admit he’s a card-carrying member, hosting Bible meetings at his Christchurch home and allegedly holding the rank of “elder.” Former members have blown the whistle, telling Newstalk ZB he’s “lied through his teeth” to the Prime Minister about his role. This isn’t a slip-up; it’s a deliberate con to duck accountability for a cult accused of shielding predators. And 1 News? They’re too busy fluffing pillows for National MPs to ask the hard questions.
Why did you report the allegations about child sex abuse within the Two By Twos are all historic, @1NewsNZ? There are 14 current “church” members with allegations against them. Convicted pedophile William Easton was a member up until December 2024. #nzpolhttps://t.co/JpvftqLMzl
— Jackal (@Jackalblog) April 12, 2025
By painting the Two By Twos’ crimes as ancient history, 1 News was trying to deflect scrutiny away from Campbell’s potential complicity. Did his meetings cover up abuse? Was he privy to the allegations? There’s so much abuse within the cult that it’s hard to believe otherwise. These are the questions 1 News should be demanding answers for, not burying the truth under limp, Tory-friendly drivel. Instead, they’re propping up National’s spin, leaving survivors to fend for themselves while a powerful MP slinks away with questions about his involvement unanswered.
This isn’t just about one liar in a suit. It’s about a biased media so spineless it’s practically giving the thumbs up to abusers. 1 News appears to be too busy kissing National’s boots to give a damn about justice. The Two By Twos’ victims deserve truth, not this cowardly right-wing whitewash perpetrated by the government's main propaganda mouthpiece. If 1 News won’t report the truth, it’s up to us to hold power to account. Because without a clear focus on pedophile cults like the Two By Twos, their “elders” will continue to infiltrate the very inner sanctum of our political establishment.
