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Story: Diverse religions

Raelian spokesperson, 2003

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Raelian spokesperson, 2003

Members of the Raelian movement believe that life on earth was created by extraterrestrials known as Elohim. In 2002 Raelians claimed that a human baby had been cloned for the first time. The Raelians' New Zealand spokesperson, Mark Woodgate of Hamilton, is shown in 2003 with literature advocating human cloning for childless couples. The Raelians' cloning claims were not substantiated and Woodgate later left the movement.

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New Zealand Herald

Reference: 6 January 2003

by Greg Bowker

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Paul Morris, Diverse religions – Recent and new-age religious movements, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/32289/raelian-spokesperson-2003 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Morris, published 28 April 2011.