Full Breakdown
Destiny Church charities investigated by New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs
8/6/2026, 8:19:02 PM
Core investigation
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is reviewing several charitable entities linked to Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church after a liquidator’s report revealed substantial debts and police opened a probe into a “threatening video” posted by Tamaki. Police confirmed the video targeted a range of organisations and individuals, prompting a formal investigation.
Background and prior controversies
Destiny Church’s charitable arm originally registered as Destiny International Trust in June 2008 was renamed Whakamana International Trust in August of the previous year and subsequently deregistered in December 2017 and again in February 2022. A petition launched last year to strip the church of charitable status attracted more than 36,000 signatures following a protest by the church’s Man Up and Legacy groups at Auckland’s Te Atatu Community Centre, where around 30 children and adults were reportedly barricaded inside. Police at the time “strongly condemned” the protest.
Financial findings and legal actions
The liquidator’s report from last year indicated the trust owed almost $2.4 million to unsecured creditors, including the Inland Revenue. In June, police temporarily suspended Tamaki’s gun licence and seized his firearms cache after incendiary comments made on social media.
Official statements and responses
Police have stated they are investigating the threatening video and have taken enforcement action on Tamaki’s firearms. The DIA, which absorbed the functions of the former Charities Commission in 2012, is conducting the charitable-status review. Tamaki has said he is not involved in the governance of the charities and that the church already pays income tax, describing the petitions to remove charitable status as “entertaining.”
Ongoing issues and potential consequences
If the DIA determines that the charities breached registration requirements, they could face further deregistration or penalties. The investigation also raises questions about the church’s compliance with tax obligations and the broader impact of its public protests on community safety.
