Is New Zealand's multiculturalism under threat? Destiny Church's anti-immigration rally poses a challenge to national values
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Hundreds of supporters of Destiny Church marched down Queen Street in central Auckland on Saturday, June 21, led by Brian Tamaki , protesting against non-Christian religions and calling for stricter immigration policies. The rally began at Aotea Square, where flags representing Islam , Buddhism, Sikhism, the LGBTQ+ rainbow, and mainstream media were torn, stomped on, and in some cases, set on fire. His followers performed a haka after each ritualistic destruction of a flag.Tamaki denounced the 'spread of non-Christian religions' and said 'uncontrolled immigration' threatened New Zealand's identity. He led chants of 'no immigration without assimilation' and described the march as a 'bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation'.Temporary clashes with counter‑protesters occurred. The protesters walked down Queen Street holding a large banner that read, 'NZ's official religion: Christianity.'They chanted 'Faith, flag, family' before announcing, 'No assimilation, no immigration'.Police were present throughout and confirmed no arrests were made. Fire and Emergency crews responded after flags were set alight, but protesters extinguished them before further action was needed.The demonstrators are affiliated with Destiny Church, a Christian movement known for its conservative, nationalist, and, critics say, fundamentalist views and linked political groups like the Freedoms & Rights Coalition and Vision NZ.Brian Tamaki is its outspoken founder, and his daughter Hannah leads Vision NZ, a small far-right political party that opposes abortion, homosexuality, mosque construction, and promotes Christian nationalism Tamaki and Destiny Church are known for previous confrontations, including protests targeting library Drag Queen Story Hour events and blocking motorways under slogans like 'Make New Zealand Great Again'. They also disrupted children's events in libraries earlier this year, drawing widespread condemnation from authorities.The weekend's protest has reignited debate over whether New Zealand's multicultural identity is under threat. Tamaki and his followers frame their cause as a defense of 'Christian values' and 'Kiwi identity,' but critics argue these protests chip away at the nation's commitment to inclusivity and diversity.Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour strongly denounced the rally's anti-immigration themes as 'un‑Kiwi,' saying that New Zealand welcomes diverse backgrounds and faiths.He affirmed that immigration remains open to those 'committed to building a better society with tolerance of others.'.Immigration restrictions put forward by Tamaki , especially his demand to repeal the country's stance that New Zealand has no official religion, were widely rejected.While Seymour reiterated the church's right to protest, he defended all New Zealanders' right to practice their faiths unimpeded.Tamaki has previously sent letters to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon demanding changes to the official religion policy and tougher assimilation rules.
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