Are you, or is someone you know, in crisis? Please call or text 1737 for 24/7, free and confidential support from a trained counsellor (New Zealand only).

For general support, including guidance for situations of suspected abuse, you can contact the Olive Leaf Network for confidential care and referral to wider services.

Events

We endorse and provide various events to support former formers of high-demand religious groups, raise awareness about their experiences, and to equip those who support them.

Upcoming Events

Listed below are a variety of events throughout the year, that are either offered or endorsed by the Olive Leaf Network. Check them out, or sign up to our newsletter to receive event notifications.

Events for former members

Regain and Restore

Regain and Restore is a positive, empowering and healing weekend for former members and survivors of high-demand religious groups.

Come away to a beautiful location and engage with empowering psycho-educational content on recovery from cultic harm. Experience the healing power of connecting with facilitators and participants who have shared lived experience. Leave encouraged and equipped with more mental resources to support you in your ongoing journey of integration and recovery.

Event date is 14th – 16th November, 2025 and will be at a beautiful venue on Kariotahi Beach, Auckland (near Waiku and within an hour of the Airport).
The cost for the weekend input is $120.00 per person. This is inclusive of some catering, but not accommodation – click the link below for more information, including:

  • an overview of the weekend schedule
  • details on the facilitators
  • overview on types of content that will be covered
  • venue information
  • and to register.


Regain and Restore Flyer – please download and share!

More detailed information and to register: click here.

More queries? Contact us at support@oliveleaf.network.nz.

What’s Your Story?

A six-week, online peer-support small group programme for former members of high-demand religious groups. Facilitated by the Olive Leaf Network founder Lindy Jacomb and by Poia Alpha, a trained counsellor and former member of the Branch Davidians, this program is offered twice a year.

Contact support@nz.oliveleaf.network for more information or to join the waiting list for this cathartic and positive online support space.

Events of general interest

ICSA Annual Conference

Their website shares that this annual conference is “typically three days in length with pre-conference workshops for former group members, researchers, mental health professionals, and educators…. Attendees include: former group members, families, helping professionals, researchers, lawyers, educators, and other interested persons.”

See the ICSA website for more information and to register.

Decult

Following on from the inaugural success of Decult 2024 as Australasia’s first cult awareness conference, there will be more events from the Decult Trust in the future. Their website shares,“Come spend a weekend with authors and educators, academics and counsellors, survivors and their advocates as they share their expertise and personal stories. Decult is for anyone interested in spirituality, faith or personal growth who wants to engage in respectful discussion to broaden their knowledge and cult-proof themselves.”

See the Decult website and social media sites to register or for more updates.

2025 Events

DECULT VOICES – BEYOND BELIEF

Join us for an exclusive screening of the 20-minute documentary DECULT VOICES – BEYOND BELIEF that was shot during the first cult awareness conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch (here is a short trailer), followed by a presentation and Q&A with Anke Richter from Decult, and Lindy Jacomb from the Olive Leaf Network. The two advocates for cult recovery and justice will share their insights and bust some public misconceptions about high-control groups. This event is hosted by the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers and is open to the public to attend.

DECULT VOICES – BEYOND BELIEF event

Religious Trauma Collective – Online Event June 2025

The Religious Trauma Collective Online Event is a space for connection, understanding, and stories from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This event is for anyone impacted by religious trauma, toxic theology, purity culture or high-control groups, as well as those supporting people through it. You’ll hear from storytellers, practitioners, researchers, cult experts, and people still in faith spaces working for change. With powerful pre-recorded sessions, a live closing reflection, pop-up in-person gatherings, and practical tools for healing—this is a chance to feel less alone and become part of a growing, local network of care and understanding. The Olive Leaf Network is pleased to be part of this event – click here for registration and more information.

2024 Events

Healing for Cult Leavers – a MindHealth Day Seminar for Counsellors, Pastoral Care Workers and Friends – April 2024

The Olive Leaf Network is pleased to be collaborating with the Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust to offer a day seminar at MindHealth in Christchurch on Tuesday 9 April 2024. The day’s focus will be on providing education and training to better equip counsellors, pastoral care workers and friends who are supporting former members of high-demand religious groups. Zoom attendance is available. Content relevant to both faith-based and secular audiences – see the flyer for more information.

Cults, Christianity and Conversations – May 2024

The Christian-based, allegedly cult-like group Shincheonji is incredibly active in New Zealand and is targeting University students, church ministers and congregations, and the general public with clever recruiting strategies. Are you in the Wellington area and want to know more about Shincheonji? Come along and find out about its practices and approaches to targeting Christians.

Hosted by Dr Terry Pouono of Laidlaw College, in collaboration with the Olive Leaf Network at Wellington Central Baptist Church on 3 May at 7.00pm.

Mental Health Professionals & Therapists Workshop with Dr. Gillie Jenkinson – October 2024

The Olive Leaf Network is collaborating with Decult to bring the highly experienced cult-recovery psychotherapist and counsellor, Dr. Gillie Jenkinson, of Hope Valley Counselling in the United Kingdom, to New Zealand. Dr. Jenkinson regularly provides training in the area of post-cult recovery to upskill therapists and frontline professionals, and we are thrilled to facilitate this opportunity for therapists to receive training from her.

Get In Touch

We’re here to help! Please send us a message using this form, or go to our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

Please be reassured that all communication with the Olive Leaf Network will be held in strict confidence. Your personal information will only be shared with others beyond our network with your permission, unless you or others are in danger, in which case we will inform relevant authorities.