Brian Tamaki is a controversial figure in New Zealand, both in religion and in politics. The founder of Destiny Church has long been a hallmark of Christian and conservative politics. People may remember that he invented the slogan ‘Enough is Enough’, which was used as a call for the protests against civil unions and same-sex marriage jointly organised with the Pentecostal City Impact Church.
Brian Tamaki was also instrumental in forming several conservative political parties including the Destiny New Zealand Party, the Family Party and more recently Coalition New Zealand which became Vision New Zealand led by his wife Hannah.
Much of the controversy seems to come from media smears. In 2006 Destiny Church was accused, in a Close Up investigation, of being a cult and preaching the ‘prosperity gospel’. Then it was about his views on homosexuality, women in politics and Islam.
Then came Covid. Since 2020 Brian Tamaki has become one of the public figures to oppose the lockdowns. He announced that he would be keeping his churches open under Level 4 and was charged for breaching Covid restrictions. He organised protests at the Auckland Domain.
The protests turned into opposing the vaccines with police becoming concerned after an alleged threat to blow up vaccination clinics. His arrest for breaching Covid restrictions and attending an ‘illegal mass gathering’ attracted protests outside Henderson police station and Mt Eden Prison.
Since then his Freedom and Rights Coalition has organised protests against the vaccine mandates. Mandates which caused thousands of Kiwis to lose their jobs over their personal medical choices and the evolution of a two-tier system of apartheid with the exclusion of the unvaccinated from society. The protests included a march to Parliament in October where he was turned around at Levin.
Then came a second march in November and of course the biggest event was their involvement in the Freedom Convoy when they provided a stage and sound equipment.
When I heard that Brian Tamaki was coming to Wellington as part of his trip to Christchurch, I was surprised because I thought his bail conditions would prevent him from travelling. The public meeting was held at a local church. I was greeted outside by a Maori man wearing a badge saying ‘Ardern is out of control’. He told me I was at the right place. When I walked in I was surprised to actually see Brian in the flesh talking with people. The auditorium was mostly full except for a few spaces at the back.
The talk began with an introduction from Heker Robertson, the Wellington Destiny pastor who introduced Brian as the founder of the Freedom and Rights Coalition and as someone who has made a stand. Hannah Tamaki was first to speak. She spoke about her arrest and imprisonment at Mt Eden Prison where she believed the police were trying to turn her against her husband. She spoke about the house arrest and, when a big protest at the Auckland Domain was organised, police came to check if he was at home.
Finally, Brian Tamaki spoke. He started off by explaining his background as a farmer, a forester and a pastor. He spoke about a desire to help people which inspired him to start Destiny. He talked about Man Up and how he had met with then Justice Minister Andrew Little to discuss having the programme in the prisons, which never eventuated.
He talked of how our freedoms have been taken away, of how reluctant he was about the vaccine and reminded us that Jacinda Ardern had promised the vaccine would not be mandatory.
He also spoke about the reason for starting the Coalition and his drive to speak up when he saw something wrong.
He spoke up against the Maori elites who were “sucking it all up” and “being used by the Labour party”.
“You think you might be free,” he said at one point “but we are still living under the traffic light system which was made for cars and we are also living under the mandates.”
He addressed mass immigration and blamed both National and Labour for it explaining that National support for mass immigration is so that the the banks who back them can profit from increasing mortgage rates due to increasing demand for housing. While Labour supports mass immigration to gain votes from the migrant community.
“I don’t think New Zealand realises how corrupt our Government has become,” he said.
Brian Tamaki was quite optimistic about the umbrella new party they are in the process of forming. He has insisted he doesn’t want to become a politician but wants to help people get elected.
Three parties have committed to the new umbrella party, two other parties are still in talks and he has invited some of the other freedom groups to join. There are plans to launch the party on the steps of parliament. He says he has offers of financial backing for his new umbrella party.
The Freedom and Rights Coalition plan to hold a ‘People’s Court’ at Parliament on the 23rd of August.
They plan to put the Government on trial and have people who have been vaccine injured testify.
“Tell your boss you have been summoned for jury service, you cannot say no,” he said.