Editing Destiny Church (New Zealand) (section)

===COVID-19 pandemic===
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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andelane |first1=Lana |title=Coronavirus: Destiny Church 'does not fear' COVID-19, will remain open |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/03/coronavirus-destiny-church-does-not-fear-covid-19-will-remain-open.html |accessdate=28 March 2020 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=15 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328030817/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/03/coronavirus-destiny-church-does-not-fear-covid-19-will-remain-open.html|archive-date=28 March 2020}}</ref> Tamaki's stance was criticised 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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harvey |first1=Megan |title=Coronavirus: Experts slams Brian Tamaki's attitude as he vows to keep churches open |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12316991 |accessdate=28 March 2020 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=16 March 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328070208/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12316991 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tokalau |first1=Torika |title=Coronavirus: Destiny Church continues Sunday service with precautionary measures |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120474471/coronavirus-destiny-church-continues-sunday-service-with-precautionary-measures |accessdate=28 March 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=22 March 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328031204/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120474471/coronavirus-destiny-church-continues-sunday-service-with-precautionary-measures |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 28 March, Destiny Church has discontinued physical services but shifted to livestreaming sermons on its website, [[Facebook Live]], and [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://www.destinychurch.org.nz/ |publisher=Destiny Church |accessdate=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328030601/https://www.destinychurch.org.nz/ |url-status=dead |archivedate=28 March 2020}}</ref> In mid&ndash;2020, Tamaki announced that Destiny Church would be holding services despite the Government's [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand#Alert level system|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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhatia |first1=Ripu |title=Coronavirus: Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says Sunday service will go ahead |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300010278/coronavirus-destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-says-sunday-service-will-go-ahead |accessdate=14 May 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=12 May 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514025725/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300010278/coronavirus-destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-says-sunday-service-will-go-ahead |archivedate=14 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Brian Tamaki to hold church service this weekend despite Level 2 restrictions |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/brian-tamaki-hold-church-service-weekend-despite-level-2-restrictions |accessdate=14 May 2020 |work=[[1News]] |date=13 May 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514030133/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/brian-tamaki-hold-church-service-weekend-despite-level-2-restrictions |archivedate=14 May 2020}}</ref> 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 organised an [[COVID-19 anti-lockdown protests in New Zealand#2 October|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 [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand#Alert level system|Alert Level 3 Order]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Lincoln |title=Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Churches supporting anti-lockdown rally took more than $1.2m from Government's wage subsidy scheme |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-churches-supporting-anti-lockdown-rally-took-more-than-12m-from-governments-wage-subsidy-scheme/EX7SOQGYFU6E4K6VSELDOJQYAQ/ |access-date=7 October 2021 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006024815/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-churches-supporting-anti-lockdown-rally-took-more-than-12m-from-governments-wage-subsidy-scheme/EX7SOQGYFU6E4K6VSELDOJQYAQ/ |archive-date=6 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Stuff Farrier op-ed" >{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300423371/destiny-church-isnt-the-only-problem-what-about-the-white-megachurches|title=Destiny Church isn't the only problem; what about the white megachurches?|publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |first=David|last=Farrier|date=6 October 2021|access-date=7 October 2021|archive-date=6 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006145628/https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300423371/destiny-church-isnt-the-only-problem-what-about-the-white-megachurches|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 (company)|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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Somerville |first1=Troes |title=Covid-19: Destiny Church denies making profit from protest group's anti-lockdown merchandise |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/126840776/covid19-destiny-church-denies-making-profit-from-protest-groups-antilockdown-merchandise |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105015310/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/126840776/covid19-destiny-church-denies-making-profit-from-protest-groups-antilockdown-merchandise |archive-date=5 November 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Nadine |title=Groundswell NZ denies being anti-vax after founder shuns vaccination promo video |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126844051/groundswell-nz-denies-being-antivax-after-founder-shuns-vaccination-promo-video |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104180702/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126844051/groundswell-nz-denies-being-antivax-after-founder-shuns-vaccination-promo-video |archive-date=4 November 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Latif |first1=Justin |title=Clinic owned by Destiny Church members helping to vaccinate South Auckland |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/456811/clinic-owned-by-destiny-church-members-helping-to-vaccinate-south-auckland |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201071446/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/456811/clinic-owned-by-destiny-church-members-helping-to-vaccinate-south-auckland |archive-date=1 December 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>