Brian Tamaki

Brian Raymond Tamaki (born 2 February, 1958) heads Destiny Church, a charismatic and Pentecostal Christian organisation in New Zealand which advocates adherence to a fundamentalist biblical morality. It has a reputation for its controversial position against homosexuality, its patriarchal views and for its calls for a return to traditional family values and morals.

Contents 1 Personal life 1.1 Lifestyle 2 Church and politics 3 In the media 4 Views on women in politics 5 Publications 6 References 7 External links

Personal life

Tamaki was born in Te Awamutu in the Waikato region as the eldest of a family of five. He spent his childhood years on the family farm, called "Te Manuka", in the rural area of Te Kopua. His mother "had always been devoutly religious"^[1] and took her sons off to the Te Awamutu Methodist Church on Sundays. His father, a heavy drinker, did not show any interest in church or the upbringing of the children. During Tamaki's childhood the family moved from the farm to Te Awamutu and then on to Tokoroa in 1970. While in Tokoroa Tamaki gained an interest in rugby union and a little later came to enjoy pig-hunting and participating in a rock-band playing the pub circuit. In his late teens Tamaki started dating Hannah Lee and would later marry her. Tamaki left secondary school in the fourth form and took up a job in the forestry-industry. After Lee fell pregnant with their child they moved to Te Awamutu, where Tamaki got a job on a dairy farm owned by his uncle and aunty. Tamaki and Lee had their first child, named Jasmine, in December 1978. Four months after his twenty-first birthday Tamaki converted to Christianity at the Ngaruawahia Apostolic Church. Tamaki lost his job on the dairy farm and he and Lee then moved back to Tokoroa, where he attended the Tokoroa Apostolic Church. The church pastor, Manuel Renata, baptised Tamaki in December 1979 and he then became heavily involved with the church. Since Tamaki and his partner had not married, Renata would not allow him to carry out all the functions at the church. Tamaki and Lee then decided to get married and the ceremony took place at the Tokoroa Presbyterian Church on 22 March, 1980. Fourteen months later they had their second child, a girl they named Jamie.^[1] In 1982 the Tamakis attended the Te Nikau Bible College in Paraparaumu; they also had their third child, whom they named Samuel, in June of that year. Tamaki was given ordination initially as an elder and then in September 1984 as a pastor in the Tokoroa Apostolic Church. Tamaki went on to establish the Rosetown Community Church in Te Awamutu, the Lake City Church in Rotorua, City Church and then Destiny Church in Auckland.^[1] Tamaki acknowledges that his early lifestyle differed greatly from that advocated in his current teachings.^[2]

Lifestyle

In March 2006 controversy ensued after a television news network reported that Tamaki and his wife took a $40,000 cruise on one of the world's most luxurious liners, the Queen Mary II, after some of their Pastors gifted it to them. ^[3]

Church and politics

See also Destiny Church, New Zealand In 2003 several members of the Destiny Church started the Destiny New Zealand political party, led by Richard Lewis. The party ran candidates in most electorates in the 2005 general election, gaining 0.6% of the party vote nation-wide.^[4] Destiny New Zealand was promoted by a nationwide tour and DVD labelled "A Nation Under Siege". Tamaki features in the DVD and accompanied the tour. The DVD shows Tamaki decrying what he sees as four problems with New Zealand society: "a Government gone evil, a radical homosexual agenda, the media: a modern day witchcraft" and "the retreat of religion in New Zealand". On 18 June 2005 kaumatua Manuel Renata ordained Tamaki as bishop of the Destiny Church movement (which totals 15 churches throughout New Zealand and Australia).^[5] Tamaki advocates prosperity theology.^[6]

In the media

At the Nelson meeting of the Destiny New Zealand "A Nation Under Siege" tour, Tamaki attacked the media, the government, the Green Party and Grey Power (a lobby group for the elderly). He referred to the Greens as "pagans", Grey Power as "self centred" and the media as "modern day witchcraft".^[7] In 2004 Sunday broadcast a fairly negative portrayal of Tamaki and of the Destiny Church. The Rev Dr Philip Culbertson of the University of Auckland said: "As far as I can tell it's a cult". The Broadcasting Standards Authority receivedIN0TR0 His opposition to the Civil Union Act of 2004 attracted significant attention from the media. GayNZ.com has reported that Radio Pacific host John Banks aired an interview with Tamaki that attacked a New Zealand AIDS Foundation's takatāpui (Māori for GLBT-person) HIV-prevention project, in which Tamaki referred to traditional Māori pre-colonial intolerance for male homosexuality, painting a picture of a society which, he claimed, exterminated gay and lesbian people. However, many Māori academic authorities question the basis for this claim.^[8] The broadcasting of Tamaki's preaching against homosexuality on Television New Zealand has led to complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.^[9] Television New Zealand pulled the original opening episode of his series Higher Ground, because it "had language and phrases that did not meet industry standards of accuracy, fairness and balance".^[10] In his autobiography, Tamaki does not recognise the sex-reassignment surgery of the transexual former MP Georgina Beyer: he refers to her as male.^[1]

Views on women in politics

Tamaki regards the lack of male leadership in New Zealand, including the leadership over one's family, as "the work of the devil".^[10] He claims that he does not oppose females in leadership, but feels that Parliament reflects this alleged lack of male leadership. In his autobiography he defends his attitude towards women by pointing to the role of his wife Paster Hannah Tamaki in the Destiny Church organisation, and also says "God is very specific about the role and function of men".^[1] Georgina Beyer confronted Tamaki at the " Enough is Enough" protest in Wellington in August 2004, charging "Your hatred is totally intolerable". She also compared him to despots like Robert Mugabe in a 3 News interview. ^[3]

Publications

• A Nation under Siege: A social disaster has hit our nation (2005) Directed by J Cardno. Rated M. DVD format.
• Brian Tamaki's autobiography: More than meets the eye: Bishop Brian Tamaki. Auckland: Tamaki Publications, Destiny Churches New Zealand, 2006. ISBN 0-473-11242-6

References

External links

• Destiny Church: official website for Destiny Church in New Zealand
• Destiny New Zealand:- the church's affiliated political party
• www.bishoptamaki.org.nz: Tamaki's book website