Arms cache Found at Waipara; ‘God Squad’ probe

Press, 8 June 1977, Page 1

Arms cache Found at Waipara; ‘God Squad’ probe

By

PETER COMER,

police reporter

The police are carrying out a New Zealand-wide inquiry into the activities of a mysterious religious sect as a result of the discovery of a big arms cache near Waipara, 60 kilometres north of Christchurch.

More than 150 weapons — mainly pistols, rifles, and shotguns — were seized in a police raid on the sect’s farmlet on the banks of the Waipara River.

A lot of ammunition was also found hidden in the house and outbuildings.

The sect is known variously as the Church of the Full Gospel, the Church of the Good Shepherd, or the “God Squad.” According to the police, the sect’s followers believe that Christ will return to Earth in the South Island, and planned to use the weapons to defend Him against "non-believers.” ‘‘We do not know the motives involved, but we are viewing the matter very seriously,” the head of the Christchurch police district (Chief Superintendent G. E. Twentyman) said last evening. He said that a big squad of detectives had been investigating the Waipara commune for several weeks.

Extensive police inquiries were also under way in many other parts of New Zealand, said Mr Twentyman.

Six members of the sect — four in Lower Hutt and two in Christchurch — have been arrested, and charged with offences involving firearms. Further arrests are pending, according to Christchurch detectives.

The police are reluctant to release full details about the investigation. “We still have a lot to find out ourselves,” said a spokesman.

Residents of Waipara, population 310, have been worried for some time

about the presence of the commune.

The police confirmed yesterday that they had received complaints about young persons in the township — especially girls — being enticed away from their families by members of the sect. They said it was known that several servicemen from the Wigram R.N.Z.A.F. base belonged to the sect.

However, an Air Force spokesman said last evening that none of the firearms seized in the police raid were of military origin, and that the presence of Air Force officers and other ranks in the sect had posed no threat to security. "We cannot begin a forma] inquiry until the police investigation is completed,” Group Captain I. M. Gillard said last evening.

The sect is believed to use the Waipara commune as its New Zealand headquarters, and to be led by a Dr Douglas Metcalf. Dr Metcalf has been interviewed at least twice by members of the Christchurch C. 1.8.

The weapons seized at Waipara were registerd in the name of “a large number of individuals,” according to Mr Twentyman. However, the police are sceptical about suggestions that they were intended to protect Christ, or to shoot

game during the worldwide famine expected under the sect’s doctrine. Mr Twentynnan confirmed that the arrests in Christchurch and Wellington were linked. He said though that it was “pure speculation at this stage” that the arms cache might have been intended for political purposes. The "Church of the Full Gospel” has been in existence since the 19205.

Local residents say that the Waipara commune was established about four years ago. It is set in about 35 acres of farmland, and the house and buildings are surrounded by a two-metre fence, topped with spikes.

At least two other families in the sect live in Waipara itself. One is a teacher at a local school.

Several Waipara householders said last evening that they were apprehensive about the sect, but had little contact with its members. “They have been around a long time, but they don’t mix at all with the locals,” said the Waipara storekeeper (Mrs I. N. Neilson). “They are of all age groups, and the women all wear long dresses; they come into the store from time to time, but I don’t know what they do for a living,” she said. Dr Metcalf was not available for comment last evening.