Auckland (The NZ Today)
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has announced an anti-immigration protest in central Auckland on the same day as the city’s major Diwali celebration at Aotea Square.
In a social media post, Tamaki called on supporters to join a demonstration planned for October 31 in Auckland Central, promoting it as a protest against what he described as “mass immigration” and calling for changes to government policies around immigration and public funding.
In the post, Tamaki criticised the use of taxpayer funding for cultural and religious events and expressed his views on maintaining what he described as New Zealand’s Christian identity. He also called for restrictions on public funding for celebrations linked to different faith communities.
The protest announcement comes as Auckland prepares for its annual Diwali Festival at Aotea Square, one of New Zealand’s largest multicultural celebrations, organised by Auckland Council. The festival showcases Indian culture through traditional performances, music, food and community activities, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Tamaki’s post has placed the two events on the same date, with both gatherings expected to draw public attention in central Auckland.
The announcement comes during an election year, with immigration, cultural identity and social cohesion featuring among the issues being discussed by political parties, community groups and the wider public.
New Zealand’s legal framework allows peaceful protests and public events, provided organisers comply with relevant requirements and regulations.
