Editing Destiny Church (New Zealand) (section)

===Opposition to drag queen storytime readings===
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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Laura |title=Rotorua councillors clash over Library Rainbow Storytime event |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512078/rotorua-councillors-clash-over-library-rainbow-storytime-event |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318195412/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512078/rotorua-councillors-clash-over-library-rainbow-storytime-event |archive-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> The [[Rotorua Lakes Council]] cancelled the storytime event, citing safety concerns about misinformation and violence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Laura |title=Rotorua cancels drag queens' Rainbow Storytime for kids over 'safety concerns' |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512228/rotorua-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-for-kids-over-safety-concerns |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320051938/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512228/rotorua-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-for-kids-over-safety-concerns |archive-date=20 March 2024}}</ref> On 26 March 2024, members of the local Destiny Church in [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]] painted over a rainbow crossing to protest against Erika and Coco Flash's drag queen event at the town's library.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O’Connor |first1=Matahi |title=Rainbow crossing in Gisborne Main Street painted white ahead of drag-queen storytime event |url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/rainbow-crossing-in-gisbornes-main-street-painted-white-ahead-of-drag-queen-story-time-event |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[The Gisborne Herald]] |date=26 March 2024 |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326202734/https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/rainbow-crossing-in-gisbornes-main-street-painted-white-ahead-of-drag-queen-story-time-event |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that day, Destiny Church members protested the reading outside the Gisborne library, where they were met by LGBT counter-protesters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCaull |first1=Ashleigh |title=Destiny Church, rainbow community clash over drag queen library performance |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512674/destiny-church-rainbow-community-clash-over-drag-queen-library-performance |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=26 March 2024 |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326032629/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512674/destiny-church-rainbow-community-clash-over-drag-queen-library-performance |url-status=live }}</ref> [[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 vandalise the rainbow crossing a second time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Kate |title=Gisborne's rainbow crossing restored after protest |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512801/gisborne-s-rainbow-crossing-restored-after-protest |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=27 March 2024 |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330162502/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512801/gisborne-s-rainbow-crossing-restored-after-protest |url-status=live }}</ref> Police charged two men and a woman with graffiti vandalism in connection to the Gisborne rainbow crossing incident.<ref name="NZH cancelled April 2024">{{cite news |title=Drag queen reading group Rainbow Storytime cancels nationwide tour amid ongoing protest by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/drag-queen-reading-group-rainbow-storytime-cancels-nationwide-tour-amid-ongoing-protest-by-destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki/OJ3U3VSF3BA2FKEFYIFMUEYJUE/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=26 April 2024}}</ref> 

Following the Gisborne protest, an upcoming Erika and CoCo Flash Rainbow Story event in [[Hastings, New Zealand|Hastings]] was cancelled by the [[Hastings District Council]] due to safety concerns.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hastings council cancels drag queens' Rainbow Storytime after Destiny Church protest |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512740/hastings-council-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-after-destiny-church-protest |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=26 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330040856/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512740/hastings-council-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-after-destiny-church-protest }}</ref><ref name="NZH cancelled April 2024" /> 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."<ref>{{cite news |title=Government needs to 'step up' and support rainbow community amid protest – Labour MP |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512797/government-needs-to-step-up-and-support-rainbow-community-amid-protest-labour-mp |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330161628/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512797/government-needs-to-step-up-and-support-rainbow-community-amid-protest-labour-mp |archive-date=30 March 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 April 2024, Ford O'Connor, a member of Destiny Church who is married to Tamaki's granddaughter, pleaded guilty to vandalising 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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Plummer |first1=Benjamin |last2=Davison |first2=Isaac |last3=Williams |first3=David |title=Ford O'Connor pleads guilty, will pay $16k for vandalizing K Road crossing; Brian Tamaki supports him |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-voices-unwavering-support-for-man-accused-of-vandalising-k-road-crossing/JPPLWQNGOZDXVKNFQ52QEI2WA4/ |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415195250/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-voices-unwavering-support-for-man-accused-of-vandalising-k-road-crossing/JPPLWQNGOZDXVKNFQ52QEI2WA4/ |archive-date=15 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drag queen reading group cancels nationwide tour amid protests |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/26/drag-queen-reading-group-cancels-nationwide-tour-amid-protests/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=[[1News]] |publisher=[[TVNZ]] |date=26 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428035148/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/26/drag-queen-reading-group-cancels-nationwide-tour-amid-protests/ |archive-date=28 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="NZH cancelled April 2024" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blackwell |first1=Finn |title=Drag performers sue Tamaki, Destiny Church seeking $2m for defamation |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520687/drag-performers-sue-tamaki-destiny-church-seeking-2m-for-defamation |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=27 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627051345/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520687/drag-performers-sue-tamaki-destiny-church-seeking-2m-for-defamation|archive-date=27 June 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 February 2025, members of Destiny Church's Man Up and Legacy groups disrupted a drag performer's show at [[Te Atatū Peninsula|Te Atatū]]'s library, which was attended by 30 adults and young children. [[Radio New Zealand]] reported that parents and children were intimidated by the Destiny members' protest actions.<ref name="RNZ 15 Feb 2025">{{cite news |title=Pride and Rainbow event in Auckland disrupted by Destiny Church |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541977/pride-and-rainbow-event-in-auckland-disrupted-by-destiny-church |access-date=15 February 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=15 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215101836/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541977/pride-and-rainbow-event-in-auckland-disrupted-by-destiny-church |archive-date=15 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="NZH 16 Feb 2025">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=David |title=Destiny Church violent protests: Politicians condemn actions, Police open assault investigation |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/destiny-church-violent-protests-police-condemn-actions-investigate-assault-allegations/EEX5Z67QHZHBBMTKH52HOIB75U/ |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217093929/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/destiny-church-violent-protests-police-condemn-actions-investigate-assault-allegations/EEX5Z67QHZHBBMTKH52HOIB75U/ |archive-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> The church members' actions were condemned by Prime Minister Luxon, [[Mayor of Auckland]] [[Wayne Brown (New Zealand politician)|Wayne Brown]], Acting Waitematā District Commander Inspector Simon Walker, Labour leader [[Chris Hipkins]] and [[Te Atatū (New Zealand electorate)|Te Atatū]] MP [[Phil Twyford]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Sam |title=Destiny Church protest 'not the Kiwi way' says Luxon |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360584454/destiny-church-protest-not-kiwi-say-says-luxon |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217093603/https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360584454/destiny-church-protest-not-kiwi-say-says-luxon |archive-date=17 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NZH 16 Feb 2025" /><ref name="RNZ 15 Feb 2025" /> On 17 February, the Police launched an investigation into assault complaints related to the Te Atatū library protest.<ref>{{cite news |title=Destiny Church library protest 'intimidating and unacceptable' - police |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/542159/destiny-church-library-protest-intimidating-and-unacceptable-police |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217094530/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/542159/destiny-church-library-protest-intimidating-and-unacceptable-police |archive-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> Twyford also called for the [[Charities Services]] to strip Destiny Church of its charitable status.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edmunds |first1=Susan |title=Labour MP calls for Destiny Church to lose charity status |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/542613/labour-mp-calls-for-destiny-church-to-lose-charity-status |access-date=22 February 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222012018/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/542613/labour-mp-calls-for-destiny-church-to-lose-charity-status |archive-date=22 February 2025}}</ref> On 21 February, a [[Pacific Media Network#NIU FM|Niu FM]] radio host was dismissed by his employers due to his involvement in the Te Atatū Library protest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Sam |title=Radio host sacked after attending Destiny Church protest |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360590392/radio-host-sacked-after-appearing-destiny-church-protest |access-date=26 February 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222084800/https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360590392/radio-host-sacked-after-appearing-destiny-church-protest |archive-date=22 February 2025}}</ref>

Destiny Church counter-demonstrators also attended Pride events in Christchurch on 1 March and Wellington on 8 March 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Liz |title=Pride on colourful display, despite protests |url=https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360599053/pride-colourful-display-despite-protests |access-date=4 March 2025 |work=[[The Press]] |date=2 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304114743/https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360599053/pride-colourful-display-despite-protests |archive-date=4 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Crimp |first1=Lauren |last2=Donaldson |first2=Rachel |title=Man Up protesters disrupt Wellington Pride parade |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/544191/man-up-protesters-disrupt-wellington-pride-parade |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=8 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308110558/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/544191/man-up-protesters-disrupt-wellington-pride-parade |archive-date=8 March 2025}}</ref> On 12 March, Police arrested and charged four individuals with several assault charges in relation to the Te Atatū library protest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Plummer |first1=Benjamin |title=Four arrested over Destiny Church-linked protest at Auckland children's event |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/four-arrested-over-destiny-church-linked-protest-at-auckland-children-s-event-at-te-atat%C5%AB-community-centre/ |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=[[Newstalk ZB]] |date=12 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312094614/https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/four-arrested-over-destiny-church-linked-protest-at-auckland-children-s-event-at-te-atat%C5%AB-community-centre/ |archive-date=12 March 2025}}</ref> On 18 March, seven individuals linked with Destiny Church appeared at the Waitakere District Court on assault charges related to the Te Atatu Pride Festival protest.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seven in court over Destiny Church-linked protest at library Pride Festival event |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/545164/seven-in-court-over-destiny-church-linked-protest-at-library-pride-festival-event |access-date=20 March 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=18 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318000630/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/545164/seven-in-court-over-destiny-church-linked-protest-at-library-pride-festival-event |archive-date=18 March 2025}}</ref>