ob体育接口

ob体育接口 ob体育接口
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Up next
ob体育接口

Police take 'enforcement action' after haka halts motorway traffic in Destiny Church flag protest

Author
Cherie Howie,
Publish Date
Thu, 13 Mar 2025, 12:21pm

Police take 'enforcement action' after haka halts motorway traffic in Destiny Church flag protest

Author
Cherie Howie,
Publish Date
Thu, 13 Mar 2025, 12:21pm
  • Police have fined 20 protesters who performed a haka that blocked the Southern Motorway in a Destiny Church-organised protest. 
  • The protest against the flying of flags other than New Zealand鈥檚 official ensign took place after the Toit奴 te Tiriti h墨koi against the Treaty Principles鈥 Bill. 
  • News of the fines comes a day after four people were arrested after protesters linked to Destiny Church tried to force their way into a drag event at Te Atatu Community Centre last month. 

Twenty people have been fined after members of Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki鈥檚 鈥淢ake New Zealand Great Again鈥 protest entered the motorway network on foot to perform a haka. 

News of the 鈥渆nforcement action鈥 over the November protest comes a day after police announced four people had been arrested - including for indecent assault and assault - after a Destiny Church-linked protest during a drag event at an Auckland community centre last month. 

More arrests are expected following the melee at the Te Atat奴 Community Centre on February 15 which saw protesters linked to the controversial church punching, pushing and shoving their way inside. 

In November, Tamaki organised a 56km convoy on the Southern Motorway, from Waikato鈥檚 Mercer to Auckland Domain, to protest the flying of flags other than the official New Zealand ensign. 

Police were told, but as the convoy neared Bombay, it stopped - blocking all northbound lanes - and dozens of people flooded onto the motorway to perform a haka. 

These actions, which police hadn鈥檛 been warned of, were 鈥渞eckless, unlawful and extremely irresponsible鈥, Superintendent Naila Hassan said at the time. 

Police didn't know a haka was planned on the Southern Motorway during the Destiny Church-organised convoy in November.Police didn't know a haka was planned on the Southern Motorway during the Destiny Church-organised convoy in November. 

No permit had been sought and, as a result, no traffic management plans were in place to keep the public safe, Hassan said. 

鈥淚t has subsequently become quite clear that this is what organisers had planned, and there is simply no excuse for putting other road users at risk.鈥 

Thousands of people had been affected as they hadn鈥檛 been able to plan for delays or the need to take alternative routes due to the protest, she said. 

鈥淲e will be following up with organisers and those involved 鈥 and taking appropriate action wherever possible.鈥 

Participants in the haka included those in traditional dress, and others in 鈥淢ake New Zealand Great Again鈥 or 鈥淩eal Men鈥 T-shirts. Participants in the haka included those in traditional dress, and others in 鈥淢ake New Zealand Great Again鈥 or 鈥淩eal Men鈥 T-shirts. 

This morning, Hassan confirmed police had identified 20 of those involved. 

鈥淲e took enforcement action against them. 

鈥淲e believe the actions of the group posed serious safety risks to themselves and other motorists using the network at the time,鈥 Hassan wrote in an email. 

Police would 鈥渃ontinue to take appropriate action in these circumstances鈥, she said. 

The Herald is clarifying the monetary penalties imposed. 

The motorway was blocked by a haka and supporters on motorcycles.The motorway was blocked by a haka and supporters on motorcycles. 

At a rally after the convoy, Tamaki told about 1000 present there were 鈥渁 lot of other flags I see flying in my country that are not this [New Zealand] flag鈥. 

He had previously taken aim at 鈥渄ivision and hatred鈥 at the Treaty Principles Bill debate and during the Toit奴 te Tiriti h墨koi earlier that week, when protesters marched across the Auckland Harbour Bridge in opposition to the bill. 

People took New Zealand for granted, Tamaki said. 

鈥淭hey make money out of it. They try and extract its resources, and use it. But they don鈥檛 realise this land was given to us 鈥 [and] it鈥檚 been so abused by politicians.鈥 

Brian Tamaki and his followers have a long history of public protest action, dating back more than 20 years. 
Photo / Sylvie WhinrayBrian Tamaki and his followers have a long history of public protest action, dating back more than 20 years. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

Christianity should be 鈥渙ur state religion鈥, after which the country would 鈥渂egin to rise again鈥, he said. 

鈥淚 would like for the Government to declare that Christianity is our state religion. We have to define who we are and what we believe.鈥 

Trump 2024 flags at a Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki-organised protest against the use of flags other than New Zealand's official ensign. Photo / Sylvie WhinrayTrump 2024 flags at a Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki-organised protest against the use of flags other than New Zealand's official ensign. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

Tamaki and his followers have a long history of public protest action, dating back more than 20 years to the 鈥淓nough is Enough鈥 protests against civil union legislation. 

Supporters also protested outside Mt Eden jail when Tamaki was remanded in custody over charges of breaching his bail, and he and others were also accused of violating Covid-19 restrictions at Auckland lockdown protests - charges that were later dismissed. 

Rainbow crossings have also been painted over. 

In the most recent alleged incident connected to Destiny Church - at last month鈥檚 library event - those involved had created a 鈥済reat deal of distress鈥 for rainbow communities鈥, Hassan said. 

鈥淭his festival is important for our Rainbow communities, and they should be able to participate in events free of intimidation and interference.鈥 

Those arrested have been bailed to appear in the Wait膩kere District Court on Tuesday next week. 

Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features. 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you