Gloriavale leavers are reacting to a plea change by the leader of the remote West Coast Christian sect - who now admits indecent assault

RNZ reports Howard Temple changed his plea yesterday on 12 charges of indecent assault.

It was on the third day of his judge-alone trial at Greymouth District Court.

The 85-year-old had earlier denied 24 counts of sexual offending involving girls as young as nine - other charges have been dropped.

Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust manager Liz Gregory says there's relief, but still questions.

She says most of them want to know why he didn't plead guilty three years ago.