Wikipedia

Destiny Church (New Zealand)

(Redirected from Destiny Church, New Zealand)

37°00′04″S 174°52′37″E / 37.0010278°S 174.8769320°E / -37.0010278; 174.8769320

Destiny Church
ClassificationPentecostalism
New religious movement (disputed)
TheologyProsperity theology
Christian fundamentalism
Right-wing populism
Conspiracism
RegionNew Zealand
– North Island:
Auckland Region, Waikato, East Cape, Bay of Plenty, Wellington
– South Island: Christchurch, Nelson
Australia: Gold Coast
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
FounderBrian Tamaki, Hannah Tamaki
OriginJuly 1998; 26 years ago (July 1998)
South Auckland
Members1,772 (2018 New Zealand census)
6,000 (claimed)
Primary schools1, Destiny School (composite school; year 1–15)
Secondary schools1, Destiny School (composite school; year 1–15)

Destiny Church is a New Zealand Christian fundamentalist organisation variously described as a church, a religious movement, or a cult.[1][2][3][4][5] Based in South Auckland and with a strong Māori conservative character, Destiny Church's direction and ideology is highly personalised around its leader and founder,[6] Brian Tamaki, whose title is "Apostle Bishop", and his wife Hannah Tamaki. The couple founded Destiny Church in 1998, and quick growth led to it peaking in 2003 with approximately 5,000 members. As of the 2018 New Zealand Census, the organisation has a recorded 1,772 followers, under a third of the 6,000 claimed by Tamaki.[7]

Destiny Church describes itself as an "iwi-tapu" or a "spiritual tribe of God's people". Its structure is Pentecostalist, with Tamaki preaching the prosperity gospel to his largely low-socioeconomic base, who are overwhelmingly Māori and Pasifika. Destiny Church's far-right ideology has been described as authoritarian.[8] The group advocates strict adherence to Biblical morality, and has a reputation for its vitriolic position against homosexuality, for its patriarchal views and for its calls for a return to Biblical conservative family values and morals.

In the 2000s, Destiny Church expanded outside of Auckland; this was mostly across the Upper North Island, but there is also a branch in Wellington, two in the South Island, and one in Australia on the Gold Coast in Queensland,[9] which has a very significant Māori population.[10] Rising to prominence in the 2000s, Destiny Church sponsored a nationwide rally against civil unions,[11] attempted to build a commune,[12][13] and issued a DVD which labelled the Government of New Zealand as "evil".

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamaki incorporated anti-vaccination conspiracy theories into the group's ideology, including the denial of the virus' existence altogether.[14][15] Tamaki soon became extremely opposed to lockdowns and mask mandates in New Zealand, and the group partook in the 2022 Wellington anti-vaccine protest.[15] Various small political parties split from the group to contest the 2020 and 2023 New Zealand general elections, including Freedoms New Zealand, Vision NZ, and the New Nation Party,[16][17] none of which gained more than 0.5% of the party vote.[18][19][20]

Since the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, the group has strongly backed Israel and performed haka to show support for the Israel Defence Forces.[21][22][23] Tamaki's actions and rhetoric have attracted criticism from the New Zealand media and from other public figures. He has been criticised for blaming the 2011 Christchurch earthquake on the "sexual perversion" of gay people,[24][25] and for holding a gathering of 700 men who swore a "covenant"[26] oath of allegiance, obedience, and deference to him. For his actions, Tamaki has run afoul of the law, having been imprisoned for breaching bail conditions as he took part in an anti-vaccination protest in Christchurch.[27]

In 2022, Destiny Church's tax-free charity status was revoked.[28]

Organization

edit

Leadership

edit
 
Brian Tamaki at a church conference in Auckland (22 October 2006)

Described by Māori religious expert Peter Lineham as "Māori-focused",[29] Destiny Church is led by Brian Tamaki and his wife Hannah Tamaki, who hold the positions of Visionary and Senior Ministers. The Tamakis established the organisation together in 1998 as a splinter from their previous investment, Lake City Church in Rotorua.[30] Their three adult children Jasmine, Jamie, and Samuel are all actively involved in the church ministry. Samuel and his wife pastor the Destiny church on the Gold Coast in Australia, Jamie and her husband are the CEO of ManUp and Legacy International, Jasmine and her husband facilitate social services within the ManUp and Legacy organisation. Brian and Hannah have 5 generations of their family in Destiny Church.[31] Following a unanimous agreement by the then 19 other pastors of Destiny Churches throughout New Zealand, Tamaki was ordained as a bishop during a ceremony performed by kaumātua and Destiny Pastor,[32] Manuel Renata, on 18 June 2005.[33] The church's leadership encourage obedience to its teachings[34] and its rhetoric has sometimes alienated other churches that have different approaches to Christianity.[35] In 2003, Tamaki, in what he described as a prophetic utterance, predicted that Destiny would be "ruling the nation" within five years.[36][37]

Ministry

edit

The church claims to provide not only biblical guidance and teaching but also a range of social services including budget advice, family and parenting advice, support for drug and alcohol abusers, anger management and resolution, provision of food and housing. Church services are energetic and have a Pentecostal worship style. The preaching and teaching is strongly conservative, literalist interpretation of Biblical teachings. Its membership is predominantly Māori and Polynesian, intergenerational, and from all levels of the socio-economic sections of New Zealand society.[38] Māori religious expert Peter Lineham has said of the church's followers: "they stem from the endemic Māori struggle to find a secure space in Western capitalist society, although there are obviously huge differences between the rural Māori that Rātana reached out to and the urban Māori community that has flocked to Tamaki. The development of a socially and politically active Christianity was a logical response in both cases."[30]

Locations and membership

edit

Destiny Church is located in South Auckland, New Zealand. The current site is in Wiri, and houses the church auditorium and its administration offices, a chapel, a multipurpose room, a fitness/boxing gym, a medical centre, an early childhood centre and school. The church began in Rotorua as "Lake City Church", which had a membership of 20 people. Within two years, it had grown to 300 members. Over the years, Destiny churches were established in the following locations:[39]

Auckland - July 1998[40] Whakatane - March 2001 Tauranga - April 2001[41] Nelson - June 2001
Hamilton - June 2002 Christchurch - April 2003 Whangārei - June 2003 Wellington - August 2003
Wanganui - May 2004 Taranaki Rotorua Brisbane

At its peak in 2003, Destiny Church had a network of 19 church branches throughout New Zealand, with a total membership in excess of 5,000. By June 2012 it had 11 remaining branches, with around 3000 regular attendees. In 2019, Brian Tamaki claimed the church had in excess of 6,000 members. However, in the 2018 census, just 1,772 gave their religion as "Destiny Church", less than did for the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (4248) and Jediism (20,409), and only slightly more than Zoroastrianism.[7] In the aftermath, NZME described Destiny Church's membership as "surprisingly low",[7] while The Spinoff went further, describing Destiny Church as "utterly marginal".[42] Church branches have closed in Porirua (the second in Wellington, after Petone), Wanganui and Dunedin.[43] By June 2013, Destiny Church Wanganui was no longer listed on the main church website.[44] In addition, other branches such as Kaitaia, Ōpōtiki, Taumarunui, and Hawkes Bay had either closed down or merged with other church branches.[45] Destiny Church has also expanded to Australia, with one branch formerly in Brisbane and a current one on the Gold Coast.[9] The Gold Coast has a very significant Māori population.[10]

Broadcasting

edit

Destiny TV, a televangelist ministry, launched in 2001 and produced 30-minute programmes that ran every weekday morning on New Zealand's national television broadcaster. The programmes were funded by donations from Destiny Church members. TVNZ ceased to broadcast the programme in late 2004 just after the formation of the Destiny New Zealand political party.[46] as of 2018, Destiny TV still operates as the video production arm of Destiny Church.[47] Weekly Destiny TV programmes are available for streaming on Destiny Church's website.[48]

Destiny School

edit

The church also operates a composite school (catering for both primary and secondary students), known as Destiny School,[49][50] which uses the Cambridge education system alongside the New Zealand curriculum.[51]

History

edit

Origins

edit

The Destiny Church movement was founded in 1998 from 20 members of Lake City Church in Rotorua,[52] initially calling itself City Church Auckland. Destiny Church was founded by Brian Tamaki and his wife Hannah Tamaki, who continue to serve as Visionary and Senior Ministers of Destiny Church.[31] Destiny Church had a close relationship with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, USA, the church of Bishop Eddie Long.[53] In his autobiography Tamaki described meeting Long, "my spiritual father", in 2002.[54] Historian Peter Lineham has compared Destiny Church's liturgy progression away from orthodox Christianity to the late 1920s Ratana movement's divergence and eventual excommunication. Lineham also notes the usages of the historic and strong belief within Christianity in Māoridom to promote his reach and teachings.[55]

Destiny is in some ways very different from other Pentecostal churches. The latest Destiny stories have focused on its growing links with Ratana, its presence at Waitangi, its Legacy march down Queen Street and the title of bishop which its founder and leader, Brian Tamaki has taken ...
We must recall that it is Māori at heart, although not tribal Māori. It trains people in Kapa haka (and performed them all too vehemently at Waitangi); it captures the hearts of many Māori women, perhaps appealing particularly to detribalised Māori. And it has a political agenda which places treaty issues high on the agenda ...
Let there be no doubt, there are some deep tensions running through New Zealand society, troubles underneath the optimism, and fundamentally they are cultural differences. Culture and religion walk hand in hand. The issues facing us today involve a deep debate over values. We should never be confident that we know which side will win.

— Peter Lineham, Among the believers[55]

Enough is Enough rally

edit

Destiny Church has campaigned for a return to what it considers to be "Christian moral values" in New Zealand society, particularly for the "sanctity of marriage between a husband and wife".[citation needed] In August 2004, Destiny members marched on Parliament under their "Enough is Enough" rally which drew 5000 protesters against civil unions legislation. The rally attracted considerable criticism. The black T-shirts and track-pants worn by many of the marchers prompted negative comparisons with Nazi storm-troopers in the New Zealand media.[56][57] When the rally was in progress, Tamaki indicated that he did not want to be a politician, saying, "I have a higher calling than a politician, I am a man of God."[36] A second march occurred in Auckland along with the Christian Life Centre and the City Impact Churches on 5 March 2005.[58]

Plans for a "Destiny City"

edit

On 29 October 2008 it was reported that Destiny Church was planning on building a holy city in South Auckland. The report was based on comments made by Brian Tamaki at the church's 10th birthday celebration, and released on DVD, where he talks about a 10-acre (40,000 m2) site the church had procured, with a budget of $2.4m. He said the community would have its own maraes and medical facilities and that "every child of every member of this church will never go to a state school again".[13] The church subsequently denied the report, a spokesperson saying they only intended to build a new headquarters and supply "social help" programmes, despite Rotorua's Daily Post quoting Tamaki as saying Destiny planned to create a "city within a city" in 2006.[59] At the Church's 2012 annual conference in Rotorua, Tamaki presented plans including a library, bookshop, early childhood centre, three schools and a university and encouraged tithing, saying "I don't care what the media say, I don't care what your relatives say, I don't care what the world says, nobody should be not tithing."[12] In December 2012, Destiny Church moved its headquarters to a 3 ha (7.4 acres) section in Wiri, South Auckland.[60]

Momentum conference and pledge of allegiance

edit

In October 2009, about 700 male members of the church attended a conference called "MoMENtum" in which Tamaki likened himself to King David.[61] Attendees swore a "covenant oath" of loyalty and obedience to Tamaki and were given a "covenant ring" to wear on their right hands. A document entitled Protocols & Requirements Between Spiritual Father & His Spiritual Sons contains the oath:

Above all, we stand here today in the presence of God to enter into this sacred covenant with our man of God, Bishop Brian Tamaki ... To you Bishop we pledge our allegiance, our faithfulness and loyalty. We pledge to serve the cause that is in your heart and to finish that work. Success to you and success to those who help you – for God is with you.[26]

The document asserts Tamaki's authority as "Bishop" and "spiritual father" of the church he founded. Another section, "Conduct Towards Bishop", states that "Bishop is the tangible expression of God", instructs the "sons" to follow numerous protocols, to defer to Tamaki with unquestioning loyalty and obedience, to follow his dress code, and to never tolerate criticism.[62]

Public profile

edit

Political activities

edit

Richard Lewis, a member of Destiny Church Auckland, formed the Destiny New Zealand political party in 2003. The party first ran candidates in 2005. Candidates from four different churches joined with candidates who came from Destiny Church. Despite Tamaki's prediction that the church would rule New Zealand by 2008, the party's 42 candidates gained only 0.6 percent of the vote. This fell well short of the five percent threshold required to enter Parliament without an electorate MP but proved the best performance of any party that failed to enter Parliament.[63] In 2007, City Impact Church and Destiny Church collaborated in the establishment of the "Family Party", but the latter won just 0.35% of the party vote in New Zealand's 2008 general election and dissolved in 2010.[64] Since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war on 7 October 2023, Destiny Church has expressed support for Israel and opposition to Hamas and Palestinian solidarity protesters. In November 2023, Tamaki organised pro-Israel counter-protests in Brisbane including an "Anzacs" rally where 200 Destiny supporters performed a haka and controversial Jewish activist Avi Yemini gave a speech.[23] In December 2023 and March 2024, Destiny Church staged pro-Israel counter-protests in Wellington.[22][21]

Māori community

edit

Destiny Church recognises and celebrates Māori as tangata whenua ("People of the Land"). It also regards itself as an "iwi-tapu" or a spiritual tribe of God's people set aside as a chosen people and a holy nation, citing a scriptural premise from 1 Peter 2:9. In 2008, Destiny Church sought to claim urban Māori status so that they could serve Māori congregants who were disconnected from their tribes. Māori broadcaster and urban Māori advocate Willie Jackson supported Destiny's proposal by arguing that Tamaki and Destiny Church had changed the lives of thousands of former Māori criminals, fraudsters, and drug dealers for the better. Destiny's socially conservative position on gay rights and women drew opposition from various sectors including Prime Minister Helen Clark.[65] In October 2008, Destiny Church was awarded Urban Māori Authority status and Te Rūnanga a Iwi o Te Oranga Ake was incorporated to serve as the church's service provider arm. In 2011, Destiny Church received funding from the Ministry of Social Development for four Community Max programmes to help 79 youths in Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty transition into full-time employment. However, Destiny Church struggled to receive government funding for other projects including a charter school. As a result, the Church has had to fund its own community services programme including the "Man Up" programme to help men become better fathers, husbands, and leaders in their own families and communities.[66]

ManUp and legacy

edit

Caine and Jamie Warren, elders of Destiny Church, founded "Man Up" in 2015. It offers a programme developed by Bishop Brian and Pastor Hannah Tamaki. The programme claims success in reducing the over-representation of Maori men in every negative statistic in New Zealand and in restoring the mana of men who have lost their sense of identity and purpose.[citation needed] Anecdotal evidence tells of changed individuals.[67] ManUp Director Caine Warren told TVNZ that all men are welcome.[68] ManUp involves everyday men from all walks of life meeting in small groups once a week throughout a 15-week time-commitment.[69] Alongside ManUp, Destiny Church offers similar groups and programmes developed to support, empower and encourage woman (Legacy)[70] and youth (Boys2Men, Legacy Diamonds).[71] In February 2019 Tamaki met with Minister of Justice Andrew Little to discuss giving Destiny Church's Man Up programme permission to participate in prison rehabilitation. Tamaki has also sought access to government grants for rehabilitation programs and access to prisoners. In a media interview, Little stated that he did not anticipate Man Up indoctrinating more followers into the church, just as (for example) the Salvation Army and the Presbyterian Church do not.[72] Tamaki clashed with the New Zealand Government in April 2019 over introducing Man Up into prisons, threatening "inmate revolts in every prison" and suggesting that ministers had subjected him to "a political gang rape". Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis stated that no "independent reputable evidence" endorsed the Man Up programme and that Tamaki had not applied and gone "through a process to get a programme into prisons".[73]

Controversies

edit

Opposition to homosexuality

edit

Destiny Church and its leader Brian Tamaki have been known for their vocal opposition to homosexuality. On 23 August 2004, Destiny Church organised a large public rally known as the "Enough is Enough" march in Wellington to oppose the Fifth Labour Government's proposed Civil Union Act. For the march, Destiny Church members wore black shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Enough is Enough." The march generated considerable media and public attention with critics such as Labour MPs Georgina Beyer and David Benson-Pope likening the marchers to Nazis.[74] Bishop Tamaki attracted controversy when he blamed the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes on sinful behaviour such as murder and homosexuality during a sermon on 13 November 2016. These statements preceded the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake by a few hours.[75][76] Tamaki's remarks were condemned by several leading New Zealand public figures including the Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker, Prime Minister John Key, and the Anglican bishop of Dunedin, Kelvin Wright.[77][78][79] One Auckland-based critic Aaron Smithson also organised a Change.org petition calling for the revocation of Destiny Church's tax-free status.[80] On Saturday 1 June 2019, Bishop Brian Tamaki formally apologised to all homosexual people for his conduct in the past. The event where this apology took place was at the Stand conference[81] in Destiny Church Auckland. He invited his good friend Jevan Goulter who spoke on the matters as well as influential homosexual figures. Brian stated that all homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people were welcome to his church.[81]

Political and religious views

edit

On his website "New Zealand: A Nation Under Siege" (bishoptamaki.org.nz) Tamaki declared the government of New Zealand to be "inherently evil",[82] pointing out that some members of Parliament chose not to swear on the Bible, and one (Ashraf Choudhary) swore on the Qur'an, when being sworn into government. In a June 2005 interview, Tamaki said Destiny was ready to wage war on "secular humanism, liberalism, relativism, pluralism", on "a Government gone evil", on the "modern-day witchcraft" of the media, and on the "radical homosexual agenda".[33] Destiny Church's far-right ideology has been described as authoritarian.[8]

Tithing

edit

Tithing is common practice in Destiny Church. Media articles using former Destiny Church members as sources have alleged that Tamaki has an outspoken autocratic style and highlighted the church's frequent appeals for tithe contributions, and its insular culture.[83] The Sunday Star Times highlighted Tamaki's visible wealth and personal luxury, questioning its consistency with the church's tithing system.[83] Church pastors agree to a restraint of trade that applies in the event that they withdraw as pastors.[84] In March 2010, the church's Brisbane pastor resigned over a difference in doctrine.[84] Twenty five members of the congregation followed him out of the church; some expressed their support for him to the media, saying that the church was a money-making cult.[85] On 29 August 2017, Destiny Church co-founder and senior pastor Hannah Tamaki attracted media attention for purchasing a new Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 S SUV worth NZ$207,900. This coincided with reports that the Charities Services was considering stripping three of Destiny Church's charities of their charitable status for failing to file returns. Some critics have regarded these expenses as extravagant luxuries that come at the expense of church members.[86][87]

Cult allegations

edit

Following members taking a voluntary covenant pledge to Bishop Brian and the cause of Destiny Church, the church was labelled as a cult by several New Zealand media outlets[88][89][90] and other observers.[91] In an interview with TVNZ,[92] Mark Vrankovich of Cultwatch criticised the covenant, saying Mr Tamaki was "taking a kingship position", and

Within this document we see here the very mechanism by which cults go askew, In his opinion, other New Zealand christians were sick of being identified with Mr Tamaki and the Destiny Church. Mr Vrankovich shares his opinion in this quote: "I mean here you have a man who thinks he is a biblical character, in this case King David, and he's building himself an army of mighty men who will do want he wants. I have grave concerns for that, grave concerns.

In the same interview[90] following the reports of October 2009, Bishop Tamaki and Richard Lewis defended the pledge on the basis that it was taken willingly, and simply attempted to set standards and codify established practice within the church. Lewis denied the "cult" claims, noting that church services are open to the public. Tamaki denied the existence of a "cult of personality", saying that he was simply setting a visible example for men to follow; and that the church helps a lot of people from difficult backgrounds. Campbell Live, a current affairs program,[61] made use of a covert camera and an unidentified witness to critique church practices and the Momentum conference. The church later issued a response,[93] stating that "a number of comments made by the individual were grossly inaccurate", that the source was not credible, and the report reflected "poor practice". In a separate report[94] Peter Lineham, associate professor at Massey University, expressed similar concerns but stopped short of using the word 'cult':

I don’t feel very comfortable about this word cult, because we use 'cult' as a sort of slang word to mean something really over the top. The fact is, there is no precise point at which you move to a total rejection of other connections.

Cult allegations resurfaced in 2010, when Cultwatch accused Tamaki of denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus,[95] the claims and Tamaki's denial of the cult status generated substantial media coverage.[96][97]

Sexual abuse allegations

edit

In late March 2010, controversy arose over allegations against two adult children of Destiny Church Taranaki Pastors Robyn and Lee Edmonds. Charges were withdrawn by Police as there was no evidence. The pastors resigned from Destiny Church Taranaki leadership.[98][99] Fourteen years later in May 2024, The New Zealand Herald reported that a former Destiny Church youth group leader was the subject of a sexual abuse allegation involving a male teenager in November 2023. After the teenager's mother alerted the Police, Destiny Church suspended the youth leader from his volunteer leadership role and banned him from the church. Destiny Church also removed several teenagers who were living with the man. The teenager's family had joined Destiny Church in 2018 and subsequently joined the youth group. The boy's mother alleged that her son suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following the abuse, manifesting in violent, volatile and suicidal behaviour. The mother also said that Destiny Church had held meetings with her son and the man's other alleged abuse victims, without contacting the parents or seeking their permission. She also criticised Police and Destiny Church for their alleged inaction in investigating the former youth leader's alleged sexual abuses. The Herald also reported that the former youth leader was now involved with a new South Auckland church group.[100] In response, Tamaki expressed sympathy for the alleged victims and their families, and said that he "hopes police investigate the matter quickly." Tamaki also criticised the Herald on Sunday for exposing the story, describing the report as "another hit-piece & gutter reporting." Police confirmed that they were investigation historical sex abuse allegations involving a Counties Manukau youth group and said there were multiple alleged victims with the alleged offending spanning several years.[101] In early June 2024, Police had arrested and charged a 29 year old man with six charges of indecent assault against two individuals. Police confirmed that the man was a former Destiny Church disciple involved with a South Auckland youth group.[102] By late August 2024, Police confirmed that the suspect was facing a total of 17 charges of indecent asault and one charge of unlawful sexual connection involving five individuals connected to the South Auckland youth group. Detective Inspector Natalie Nelson said that the historical sexual allegations dated back to at least 2020. Destiny Church issued a statement that the matter was now in the hands of the Police and the courts.[103]

Revocation of tax-exempt status

edit

Allegedly more than 100,000 people had signed a petition calling for the New Zealand Government to revoke Destiny Church's tax-free status, reports say that this petition was in response to Tamaki's remarks blaming gays for the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, and church co-founder Hannah Tamaki's purchase of a brand new Mercedes-Benz in mid-August 2017.[104] In early October 2017, the Department of Internal Affairs issued notice to remove two of Destiny Church's biggest charities, Destiny International Trust and Te Hahi o Nga Matamua Holdings, of their charitable status. Destiny Church took immediate legal action and subsequently to date they still retain their charitable status with the Department of Internal Affairs.[105] In late October 2019, the High Court restored the charitable status of Destiny International Trust and Te Hāhi o Ngā Mātāmua Holdings. Destiny's lawyer Ron Mansfield confirmed that the two charities were complying with the law.[106] In February 2022, the Department of Internal Affairs delisted four Destiny-link charities for failing to file their annual returns by 31 December 2021.[28]

COVID-19 pandemic

edit

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Destiny Church courted media attention when Bishop Tamaki announced that his movement would not close their churches in response to Government directives discouraging large gatherings of more than 100 people. In a statement on 15 March 2020, Tamaki stated that "I'm not about to let a filthy virus scare us out of having church. To equate fear with common sense is nonsense."[107] Tamaki's stance was criticized by infectious diseases expert Dr Siouxsie Wiles, who remarked that "people like [Tamaki], former politicians, entrepreneurs are all coming out and saying all sorts of nonsense, rather than being supportive of how we're going to get through this... Instead of [Tamaki] saying 'how can we help keep New Zealanders safe', he's just stating stuff when he actually does not know anything."[108] While Destiny Church held services on 22 March, it took precautionary steps including encouraging the sick and elderly to stay at home, having health checks, and separated 19 rooms into eight zones to manage crowd numbers.[109] As of 28 March, Destiny Church has discontinued physical services but shifted to livestreaming sermons on its website, Facebook Live, and YouTube.[110] In mid–2020, Tamaki announced that Destiny Church would be holding services despite the Government's alert level two restrictions limiting private gatherings including religious services to 10 people. Tamaki described the Government as "controlling parents" and called on churches to join him in opposing these restrictions as a breach of rights.[111][112] In early October 2021, The New Zealand Herald reported that Destiny Church had received a total of NZ$127,903.20 in wage subsidies including $91,384.80 for its 13 employees in Auckland and $36,518.40 for six in Hamilton. On 2 October, Bishop Tamaki had organized an anti-lockdown protest, which attracted 2,000 people including families with young babies. Tamaki was subsequently charged with breaching the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 and the Alert Level 3 Order.[113][114] In early November 2021, Destiny Church admitted that it played a central role in leading the anti-lockdown group The Freedoms & Rights Coalition (TFRC), which had organised nationwide anti-lockdown protests, but denied making money from the Coalition's merchandise. According to Stuff, the TFRC's web domain was owned by Jenny Marshall, the church's director of operations and Brian Tamaki's assistant. The Coalition's website solicited donations and sold merchandise including t-shirts, flags and facemasks emblazoned with anti-lockdown messaging. Marshall also confirmed that Brian Tamaki regarded himself as the "founder and architect" of the movement but claimed that the Coalition's merchandising was separate from Destiny Church's finances.[115] In addition, Stuff reported that Brian and Hannah Tamaki maintained links with Groundswell NZ's Pukekohe and Auckland coordinator Scott Bright, who donated vegetables to the TFRC and participated in an anti-lockdown protest in his personal capacity.[116] In late November 2021, Radio New Zealand reported that Destiny Church had leased its carpark in Wiri, Auckland for the Whānau Ora Community Clinic's testing operations. The Whānau Ora clinic, which has vaccinated tens of thousands of people at its Takanini mass vaccination centre, is owned by two prominent Destiny Church members Raewyn Bhana and George Ngatai.[117]

Opposition to drag queen storytime readings

edit

Destiny Church has opposed to Drag Queen Story Hour events in New Zealand. On 19 March 2024, the church objected to a proposed drag queen event at Rotorua's library by drag performers Sunita Torrance (Coco) and Daniel Lockett (Erika Flash), threatening to protest if the event proceeded.[118] The Rotorua Lakes Council cancelled the storytime event, citing safety concerns about misinformation and violence.[119] On 26 March 2024, members of the local Destiny Church in Gisborne painted over a rainbow crossing to protest against Erika and Coco Flash's drag queen event at the town's library.[120] Later that day, Destiny Church members protested the reading outside the Gisborne library, where they were met by LGBT counter-protesters.[121] Mayor of Gisborne Rehette Stoltz condemned the vandalism of the rainbow crossing, which was subsequently repainted by the Gisborne District Council. Police later arrested five individuals who attempted to vandalize the rainbow crossing a second time.[122] Police charged two men and a woman with graffiti vandalism in connection to the Gisborne rainbow crossing incident.[123] Following the Gisborne protest, an upcoming Erika and CoCo Flash Rainbow Story event in Hastings was cancelled by the Hastings District Council due to safety concerns.[124][123] In response to Destiny Church's actions, the Labour Party's rainbow spokesperson Shanan Halbert described the church's behaviour as "very disappointing." While Halbert supported the right to protest, he condemned what he regarded as "vicious discrimination against young people and their families."[125] On 15 April 2024, Ford O'Connor, a member of Destiny Church who is married to Tamaki's granddaughter, pleaded guilty to vandalizing the Karangahape Road rainbow crossing in central Auckland on 28 March. O'Connor was fined $16,093 to cover the repair costs for the crossing. During the sentencing, Tamaki expressed support for O'Connor, saying that "he undertook a political protest against the excessive rainbow-washing that is occurring across New Zealand right now, at the expense of our taxpayers and our ratepayers."[126] In late April 2024, Rainbow Storytime NZ's founder Sunita Torrance cancelled a future nationwide tour to focus on a defamation case against Destiny Church. By contrast, Tamaki welcomed the cancellation of the drag queen storytime tour as a victory on social media.[127][123] In late June 2024, Torrance and fellow drag performer Daniel Lockett filed a lawsuit against the leadership of Destiny Church for allegedly inducing breach of contract, conspiracy to injure, unlawful means conspiracy, and defamation in relation to the disruption of their drag story events. In response, Destiny Church said it would continue to advocate for children's well-being and accused the New Zealand Herald of promoting crowdfunding for the drag performers' legal case.[128]

Opposition to transgender rights

edit

In early May 2024, Tamaki opposed the use of puberty blockers on transgender children and youth people undergoing transitioning and the appointment of Dr Sue Bagshaw as the Government's lead investigator on the review of the suitability of puberty blockers in New Zealand. On 6 May, he and Pastor Derek Tait led a protest by Destiny Church members against Te Tahi Youth health service in Christchurch, which helps transgender people access healthcare. Destiny supporters were met by counter-protesters while Police monitored the event.[129]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Destiny, cult-watchers in clash over Christ". NZ Herald. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Garth George: Destiny must be treated as a cult". NZ Herald. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Destiny Church called a 'money-making cult'". www.stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Destiny Church isn't the only problem; what about the white megachurches?". www.stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ admin (23 January 2024). "Destiny Church (New Zealand) – Cults and Sects". New Religious Movements. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  6. ^ Glenn (29 October 2009). "Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church – When "Cults" Fill the Void". Right Reason. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "'Disaster': Brian Tamaki eviscerates 'ludicrous', 'laughable' Census". Newshub. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b McConville, Chris: Review: Destiny – The Life and Times of a Self-Made Apostle. By Peter Lineham. Penguin Group, Auckland, 2013. New Zealand Journal of History.
  9. ^ a b "Church Locations". Destiny Church NZ. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b Henderson, Ngāwaiata (13 November 2021). "Mozzies: We don't cease to be Māori once we've left". E-Tangata. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Georgina Beyer confronting anti civil union protestors in 2004". RNZ. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b Weekes, John (3 June 2012). "'City of God' dream becomes Destiny". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Brian Tamaki announces plans for standalone community in South Auckland". 3 News. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  14. ^ Grimshaw, Mike (January 2006). "Religion, terror and the end of the postmodern: Rethinking the responses Archived 17 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine". International Journal of Baudrillard Studies 3 (1)
  15. ^ a b "Covid-19 Delta outbreak: Experts criticise Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki's vaccine claims". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Parliament protest: Brian Tamaki announces new political party 'Freedoms NZ'". New Zealand Herald. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Brian Tamaki brings fringe political parties into new group Freedoms NZ". Stuff. 23 August 2022. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  18. ^ Melanie Earley (23 May 2019). "Destiny Church launches political party, promising 'politics with teeth'". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  19. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  20. ^ "2023 General Election – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Wellington braces for another day of protest action". NZ Herald. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki outside Parliament". RNZ. 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  23. ^ a b Gillespie, Eden (17 November 2023). "Queensland Muslims ask for police protection over New Zealand far-right activist's pro-Israel protest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  24. ^ Macdonald, Fraser (28 October 2021). "Spirit of resistance: why Destiny Church and other New Zealand Pentecostalists oppose lockdowns and vaccination". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Key calls Tamaki's comments 'madness'". NZ Herald. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  26. ^ a b Covenant Document, published on www.bishoptamaki.org.nz.
  27. ^ "Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki returns to social media after being released from prison". Newshub. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Destiny Church charities removed from register for failure to file annual returns". Stuff. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  29. ^ Team, Waatea; Website (31 July 2013). "Race slant to Destiny criticism". Waatea News: Māori Radio Station. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  30. ^ a b “Cults” and “New Religious Movements” – University of Auckland https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/files/1426866/download?download_frd=1 Archived 1 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ a b "About Us". Destiny Church New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  32. ^ "State religion for further debate". The New Zealand Herald. 19 February 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  33. ^ a b Crewdson, Patrick (19 June 2005). "Bishop fulfils his destiny". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  34. ^ "Cultism in religion rings the alarm bells", NZ Herald, 13 August 2004.
  35. ^ "Enough is Enough[permanent dead link‍]". Challenge Weekly, Vol. 62 Issue 25, July 2004

    VISION Network, which represents a large number of churches, says that although they were supportive of the general message of Destiny Church’s "Enough" campaign, response from its Advisory Board had overwhelmingly indicated that they preferred to see this issue handled differently ... "The difficulty is that when any individual or group calls for unity on a single issue but operates outside of a wider unity movement that others have committed to, it is more likely to create division rather than the unity which is sought"
  36. ^ a b "Is Destiny destined to rule?". Television New Zealand. 3 October 2004. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  37. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Brian Tamaki's We Will Rule NZ Prophesy". YouTube.
  38. ^ Peter Lineham contextualises Destiny Church as a part of a broader cultural phenomenon in "Wanna be in my gang? Archived 16 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine". The Listener. 195 (3357). 11 September 2004.
  39. ^ "Locations". Archived from the original on 7 November 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  40. ^ Destiny Church Auckland was initially named "City Church" but renamed to "Destiny Church" when relocated to Mt Wellington
  41. ^ Destiny Church Tauranga was formerly known as "Harbour City Church"
  42. ^ Braae, Alex (23 September 2019). "The most buzzy data points from the just-released Census". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  43. ^ Hurley, Bevan (4 June 2012). "Destiny family firm: for theirs is the kingdom". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  44. ^ "Find Your Local Destiny Church". Destiny Church. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  45. ^ Young, Craig (28 March 2007). "Comment: Uncertain Destiny?". GayNZ.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  46. ^ Mather, Mike (10 December 2004). "TVNZ pulls plug on Destiny Church programme". Rotorua Daily Post; The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  47. ^ "Destiny TV". Destiny Church. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  48. ^ "Watch Live". Destiny Church. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  49. ^ "Destiny School | Education Review Office". ero.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  50. ^ "Destiny School: Profile and Contact Details". Education Counts | New Zealand Government. 19 October 2024.
  51. ^ Education Counts: Destiny School
  52. ^ Destiny Church: Our History Archived 13 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, destinychurch.org.nz, retrieved 31 October 2009
  53. ^ "Our church". Auckland: Destiny Church. 2010. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2012. The church corporate relates closely with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta USA, which is the home of Bishop Eddie L. Long, spiritual father to Bishop Tamaki.
  54. ^ Tapaleao, Vaimoana (24 September 2010). "Tamaki link to US sex-case bishop". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  55. ^ a b Lineham, Peter (5 April 2006). "Among the believers Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine". Massey University.
  56. ^ "March arouses Nazi fears". The Press. 24 August 2004.
  57. ^ "Black shirts spark anger". Dominion Post. 24 August 2004.
  58. ^ "Auckland civil union march noisy but peaceful". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 5 March 2005. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  59. ^ Eriksen, Alanah (30 October 2008). "Destiny denies Manukau 'kingdom' plan". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  60. ^ Ringer, Bruce (2021). Naming Manurewa: Place and Street Names in Manurewa, Weymouth and Wiri. Manurewa Historical Society. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-473-59363-6.
  61. ^ a b "Destiny Church's inner workings revealed in secret video". 3 News. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  62. ^ George, Garth (29 October 2009). "Tamaki's 700 'sons' swear oath of loyalty". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  63. ^ "2005 election results by Party". Election Results 2005. Ministry of Justice. 2005. Archived from the original on 29 April 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  64. ^ "Home". elections.org.nz. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  65. ^ Haami 2018, pp. 187–188.
  66. ^ Haami 2018, p. 188.
  67. ^ Tipene-Allen, Rukuwai (16 August 2018). "Man Up working with fathers to change families". Maori Television. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019. Former Mongrel Mob member Toko Koopu says the Man Up programme, which strengthens men to become better fathers, husbands, and leaders in the home and community has not only changed him but given him a chance to improve other's lives.
  68. ^ "Director of Destiny Church's Man Up programme says all are welcome, as fight launches for prison access". 1News. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  69. ^ "Man Up homepage". Man Up: Tu Tangata. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019. Man Up is a 15-week program that helps identify, expose and understand core root issues of why men experience dysfunctions.
  70. ^ "Legacy New Zealand". Facebook. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  71. ^ "Boyz II Men". Man Up: Tu Tangata. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  72. ^ O'Brien, Tova (6 February 2019). "Exclusive: Brian Tamaki meets with Andrew Little to discuss giving Destiny Church funding, access to prisons". Newshub. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019. When Newshub asked if the programme could be used to indoctrinate more followers into the church, Minister Little said he didn't think so.
    "I don't see the Salvation Army or Presbyterian Support Services or any of the other faith-based organisations doing that."
  73. ^ "Brian Tamaki says tweet threatening violence in prisons 'not serious'". New Zealand / Politics. Radio New Zealand. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019. It's necessary to apply and go through a process to get a programme into prisons, which Mr Tamaki had not done, Mr Davis said. However, now that Mr Tamaki has talked about organising revolts in prisons, Mr Davis said there would be no point in him applying.
  74. ^ Lineham 2013, pp. 12–22.
  75. ^ "Watch: Brian Tamaki tells followers, 'the weight of human sin' caused the Christchurch earthquake – hours before Kaikoura". 1News. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  76. ^ Strongman, Susan (17 November 2016). "Bishop Brian Tamaki blames gays, murderers and sinners for earthquakes". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  77. ^ "Sir Bob Parker demands 'off beam' Brian Tamaki apologise to Christchurch, Kaikoura for blaming quake on sins". 1 News. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  78. ^ Strongman, Susan (17 November 2016). "Shock over Destiny leader Brian Tamaki's homophobic remarks". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  79. ^ McNeilly, Hamish (17 November 2016). "Bishop of Dunedin on Brian Tamaki: 'He's telling porkies'". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  80. ^ Akoorie, Natalie (17 November 2016). "Petition to stop Destiny Church having tax-free status gaining support". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  81. ^ a b Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Love Is Greater Than Hate – Stand! Conference Saturday PM Service". YouTube.
  82. ^ "A Government gone Evil". bishoptamaki.org.nz. Retrieved 2005. Archived 30 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  83. ^ a b "Making a pretty penny from heaven[dead link‍]". Sunday Star Times, 20 June 2004. (Link is to Highbeam Research; the first few sentences are provided free, but payment is required for the rest.)
  84. ^ a b Tapaleao, Vaimoana (2 March 2010). "Destiny split triggers exodus". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  85. ^ Tapaleao, Vaimoana (3 March 2010). "It's a cash cult, say Destiny's walk-outs". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  86. ^ Appleby, Luke (29 August 2017). "Destiny Church's Hannah Tamaki again splashes out on flash Mercedes – and this one's a 577hp beast". 1News. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  87. ^ "Destiny Church leader spends large on new car". The New Zealand Herald. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  88. ^ George, Garth (29 October 2009). "Tamaki's church becoming a cult". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  89. ^ "Not Brian's destiny to be humble, meek". Otago Daily Times. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  90. ^ a b "Destiny's controversial covenant slammed". Television New Zealand. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  91. ^ NZ Cults & Religious Groups List Archived 6 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Cults.co.nz
  92. ^ "Destiny's Brian Tamaki answers 'cult' accusations". Stuff. NZPA. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  93. ^ "Response to TV3 Campbell Live item Archived 13 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine". destinychurch.org.nz, retrieved 1 November 2009.
  94. ^ "Destiny's controversial covenant slammed". Television New Zealand. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  95. ^ "Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church is Now a Cult – CULTWATCH". Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  96. ^ George, Garth (17 February 2011). "Garth George: Destiny must be treated as a cult". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  97. ^ "Destiny, cult-watchers in clash over Christ". The New Zealand Herald. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  98. ^ "Destiny Church abuse allegations". 3 News. 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  99. ^ Fisher, David (6 June 2010). "Destiny Church members resign after official inquiry". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  100. ^ Nichols, Lane (26 May 2024). "Destiny Church youth group leader stood down, police investigation under way into allegations of sexual abuse". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  101. ^ Nichols, Lane (27 May 2024). "Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki addresses sexual abuse allegations involving banned youth leader accused of assaulting teens". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  102. ^ Nichols, Lane (7 June 2024). "Destiny Church disciple arrested and charged with historical sexual assaults involving teenagers". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  103. ^ Nicols, Lane (28 August 2024). "Former Destiny Church disciple faces fresh sexual abuse charges, two new complainants contact police, five alleged victims". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  104. ^ Plumb, Simon (3 October 2017). "Government moves to strip Destiny Church charities of their tax-exempt status". 1News. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  105. ^ Henry, Dubby (23 November 2017). "Destiny charities to be stripped of tax-exempt status". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  106. ^ "Destiny Church charities status reinstated after earlier being deregistered". The New Zealand Herald. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  107. ^ Andelane, Lana (15 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Destiny Church 'does not fear' COVID-19, will remain open". Newshub. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  108. ^ Harvey, Megan (16 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Experts slams Brian Tamaki's attitude as he vows to keep churches open". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  109. ^ Tokalau, Torika (22 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Destiny Church continues Sunday service with precautionary measures". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  110. ^ "Homepage". Destiny Church. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  111. ^ Bhatia, Ripu (12 May 2020). "Coronavirus: Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says Sunday service will go ahead". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  112. ^ "Brian Tamaki to hold church service this weekend despite Level 2 restrictions". 1News. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  113. ^ Tan, Lincoln (6 October 2021). "Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Churches supporting anti-lockdown rally took more than $1.2m from Government's wage subsidy scheme". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  114. ^ Farrier, David (6 October 2021). "Destiny Church isn't the only problem; what about the white megachurches?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  115. ^ Somerville, Troes (2 November 2021). "Covid-19: Destiny Church denies making profit from protest group's anti-lockdown merchandise". Stuff. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  116. ^ Porter, Nadine (2 November 2021). "Groundswell NZ denies being anti-vax after founder shuns vaccination promo video". Stuff. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  117. ^ Latif, Justin (29 November 2021). "Clinic owned by Destiny Church members helping to vaccinate South Auckland". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  118. ^ Smith, Laura (19 March 2024). "Rotorua councillors clash over Library Rainbow Storytime event". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  119. ^ Smith, Laura (20 March 2024). "Rotorua cancels drag queens' Rainbow Storytime for kids over 'safety concerns'". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  120. ^ O’Connor, Matahi (26 March 2024). "Rainbow crossing in Gisborne Main Street painted white ahead of drag-queen storytime event". The Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  121. ^ McCaull, Ashleigh (26 March 2024). "Destiny Church, rainbow community clash over drag queen library performance". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  122. ^ Green, Kate (27 March 2024). "Gisborne's rainbow crossing restored after protest". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  123. ^ a b c "Drag queen reading group Rainbow Storytime cancels nationwide tour amid ongoing protest by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki". The New Zealand Herald. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  124. ^ "Hastings council cancels drag queens' Rainbow Storytime after Destiny Church protest". Radio New Zealand. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  125. ^ "Government needs to 'step up' and support rainbow community amid protest – Labour MP". Radio New Zealand. 27 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  126. ^ Plummer, Benjamin; Davison, Isaac; Williams, David (15 April 2024). "Ford O'Connor pleads guilty, will pay $16k for vandalizing K Road crossing; Brian Tamaki supports him". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  127. ^ "Drag queen reading group cancels nationwide tour amid protests". 1News. TVNZ. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  128. ^ Blackwell, Finn (27 June 2024). "Drag performers sue Tamaki, Destiny Church seeking $2m for defamation". RNZ. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  129. ^ "Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki trans protest in Christchurch met with counter-protest". The New Zealand Herald. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

Further reading

edit
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Destiny_Church_(New_Zealand)&oldid=1259659895"