With Destiny Church under heightened legal scrutiny, Craig Young believes it is only a matter of time before history repeats itself.
The recent violent protest at Te Atatū Library, followed by arrests, has placed Destiny Church under legal scrutiny. NZ Police Inspector Simon Walker warned the sect that it could face further legal consequences if such disruptions recur. Walker confirmed that the current incident is under investigation.
Brian Tamaki admitted to urging Man Up and Legacy Sisterhood members to protest outside the library but stopped short of condemning the group’s actions when Destiny Church members stormed the venue, harassing drag king Hugo Grrrl and the families attending the storytime event. Despite the disruption, police dispersed the crowd, and the event proceeded.
Destiny’s Desperation and Political Failures
This incident reflects Destiny Church’s escalating militancy, possibly driven by declining membership. As the church loses followers, Tamaki appears to be stoking extremism to maintain loyalty.
Tamaki’s political ambitions have been marked by repeated failures. Destiny New Zealand, the Family Party, Vision New Zealand, and Freedoms New Zealand have all performed dismally in elections. His efforts to lead the anti-vaccination movement floundered in 2024, largely due to infighting and disorganisation. Additionally, Tamaki’s support for ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill, which mainstream Māori leaders oppose, has further isolated him.
Trump’s Shadow: The Politics of Spectacle
Tamaki seems to be emulating Donald Trump, whose second-term victory was built on spectacle, polarisation, and disinformation. Yet, while Tamaki mimics Trump’s style, he lacks the organisational infrastructure required for political success.
Lessons from History: The Failure of Extremism
New Zealand’s political history offers clear lessons—particularly from the anti-abortion movement of the 1980s and 1990s.
Back then, anti-abortion activists faced major defeats in the courts and Parliament. Their attempt to pass the Status of the Unborn Child Bill 1983 failed, and peaceful protests outside clinics were met with pro-choice counter-demonstrations that built public support for reproductive rights.
Radical activists then turned to aggressive tactics, inspired by the US movement Operation Rescue, which blocked clinic entrances. However, pro-choice activists, anticipating their moves, ensured swift arrests and mounting fines. This split the anti-abortion movement, with moderates abandoning the cause due to financial and legal consequences. The movement’s failure culminated in the decriminalisation of abortion in 2019.
Destiny Church: Repeating the Mistakes of the Past
While Destiny Church differs from Operation Rescue—notably due to its financial independence—both movements share patterns of extremism, growing unpopularity, and isolation from the mainstream. Tamaki’s legal troubles, including defamation charges over his use of the term “grooming,” suggest that his confrontational approach is already backfiring.
Religious Freedom Has Limits
Attempts to frame Destiny Church’s actions as religious freedom are unlikely to succeed in New Zealand courts. Australian precedents show that religious liberty does not extend to infringing others’ rights. Under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, Destiny’s actions, which disrupt public events and intimidate others, would likely fail a legal challenge.
Conclusion: On the Brink of Collapse
Like Operation Rescue before it, Destiny Church risks imploding through its own extremism. Tamaki’s increasingly reckless tactics may push the church further into legal battles and political irrelevance. If history is any guide, his fall may already be underway.
