A petition on Change.org is urging the New Zealand government to revoke Destiny Church’s charitable status, accusing the organisation of inciting hate crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community.
Launched on 29 March 2024 by a user named “Concerned Citizen,” the petition has already collected over 82,000 signatures, with a goal of 150,000.
The petition claims that Destiny Church’s leader, Brian Tamaki, alongside affiliated charities Man Up and The Hounds, has promoted harmful rhetoric targeting transgender women and the broader LGBTQIA+ community. According to the petition, such actions violate the Charities Act 2005, which requires organisations to demonstrate public benefit to maintain their charitable status.
Outrage Over Auckland Pride Incident
The petition gained momentum following a widely criticised incident on 15 February 2025, during the Auckland Pride Festival. Members of Destiny Church’s Man Up and Legacy groups disrupted a children’s event at the Te Atatū Community Centre in West Auckland. The event, which featured a drag king leading a science-themed session on rainbows, ended in chaos when protesters stormed the venue. Approximately 30 attendees, including toddlers, were forced to shelter in a room as the situation escalated.
Auckland Council’s chief executive, Phil Wilson, condemned the disruption, calling the behaviour of Destiny Church members “outrageous and unacceptable” and noting that council staff were subjected to physical and verbal abuse. Inspector Simon Walker, Acting Waitematā District Commander, also denounced the actions, stating they caused “considerable distress and concern among tamariki, library staff, and visitors.”
A History of Controversy
Destiny Church has a long-standing record of anti-LGBTQIA+ protests. In 2004, the church held the controversial Enough is Enough march in Wellington to oppose the Civil Union Act, with members wearing black shirts displaying the slogan.
More recently, in March 2024, the church led protests against drag queen storytime events at libraries in Rotorua and Gisborne. These protests forced cancellations of the events and heightened tensions between supporters and opponents.
Debating Charitable Responsibilities and Free Speech
The petition argues that organisations with charitable status should uphold values that benefit the wider public. It contends that Destiny Church’s rhetoric and actions promote division and hatred, thereby failing to meet the standards required under New Zealand’s charitable laws.
As signatures continue to climb, the debate over Destiny Church’s status underscores broader conversations about the obligations of charitable organisations and the limits of free speech when it causes harm to marginalised communities.
