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Brian Tamaki announces plans for standalone community in South Auckland

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Brian Tamaki

Brian Tamaki

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Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00a.m.

Destiny Church is planning to create a holy city for its followers in the heart of South Auckland.

The church's leader, Bishop Brian Tamaki has told supporters the plans are well advanced, and that donations for the project have topped $2.4 million.
 
He is urging church members to sell up their homes around the country and move to his promised land - a suggestion that is not being welcomed by everyone.

Tamaki unveiled his vision in front of thousands of parishioners at Destiny Church's 10th birthday conference.

He is planning to sell Destiny headquarters at Mt Wellington and create a 'Destiny City'. He has already secured a plot of land to build it on in the middle of South Auckland.

"We've signed literally for 10 acres, with a possibility of another five acres when we want it, then another five when we need it," says Tamaki. "So that gives us 20 acres right in the heart of the largest city in our nation."

Tamaki told his parishioners the city will hold a church to seat 5000, maraes, medical centres and schools, so his parishioners never have to leave.

"Every child of every member of this church will never go to a state school again," says Tamaki.

Destiny has 10 churches and over 7000 members throughout New Zealand.

Tamaki wants all of them to sell their homes and move to his holy nation where he can protect them.

"You'd shift for a payrise?" he asks his followers. "Would you shift for the purpose of God? To see something happen? Would you do that?"

3 News was contacted by a concerned man who attended the conference with his mother. He says she is now planning to sell her six properties in Nelson, donate the money to the church and move to Tamaki's Destiny City.

Mark Vrankovich from Cultwatch says Tamaki's plans are dangerous, because his followers will be isolated from society.

"There is a danger there that the people will focus on Brian as their only source of reality," he says, "and then if Brian becomes deranged or goes extremely strange we could end up with a Waco."

Waco was the site in the US state of Texas where in 1993, 76 followers of the Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh died in a fire following a 51-day siege by the FBI.

Destiny Church told 3 News it would be another few weeks before the purchase of the land was confirmed, and it was too early to reveal its exact location.

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Comments [53]

nzjohn
06 Jan 2012 1:31p.m.

My wife & children were members of this church for several years. The 'Destinyville' plan is another way to control the information that members access. The superstitious idea that an agent of a God, (Tamaki) can take credit for a man conquering addictions is ridiculous, but this rubbish is believed by many Kiwis. I never saw addicts at the door asking for help but heard many stories of rescue. Churchgoers would compete with wails of regret telling tales of woe, of how low they stooped, how Destiny razed them back up. This culture of 'saved from myself' seemed to appeal to many. You too could join Brian's holy roller money train, financial success was beckoning, if only you gave enough, you can be saved, become wealthy, a personal JC takes care of you, the added bonus - with Brians help you can become a 'real man'. I attended many times and was struck by Tamaki's elitism, special 'red carpet' treatment, separate raised dais table, chicken for Brian, cold sausage rolls for the unwashed masses. A superstitious throng of hero worshippers hung on Tamaki's words. I felt like a Jew at a Nazi rally watching the mad, sad & clapping glad worshippers as they gazed in awe at 'Bishop' while he and his wife whipped up a donation frenzy like cheap fair ground hucksters. Brian, there was ONE table at the last super, and no red carpet.

father of 2 boys
18 Feb 2011 3:54p.m.

so who said that he wanted to build a isolated city? i go to the destiny church every now and then and i rekon its a awsome atmosphere i dont tithe all that much and they dont look down and me they are lovely people and oh yeah and a isolated city come you guys will believe everything you hear on the news and what comes out of Mark Vrankovich's mouth who edits bishop brians sermons (i know because some ive seen on tv have i have been to) needs to just mind his own buisness and try and get back into his own pastors good books

sara
18 Feb 2011 1:20p.m.

another jim jones or waco texas i can see it sticking out a mile , the ladiocea chrch she thinks she is rich increased with goods and lacks nothing thats the modern money loving chrch and they have put god the word out becouse he is outside the church knocking on the church door trying to get back in the modern church is ashamed of christ the word .

SD
06 Oct 2010 3:29a.m.

Can you say Jim Jones? It's Kool-aid time, again!

SD
06 Oct 2010 3:22a.m.

Can you say Jim Jones?

BLACK MAN HATES OBAMA
26 Sep 2010 5:13a.m.

This is some bogus crap. What the hell are wrong with people, that they would be so easily deceived? Did they not hear about Jim Jones? David Koresh?

He's just like an abusive lover- get the victim away from everyone who cares about them, and from under the auspices of the law, and brainwash them. It's a much easier process when the abuser doesn't have to compete with the voice of reason.

http://blkmanhatesobama.webs.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/blkmanhatesobama01?feature=mhum

judy
06 Apr 2010 5:19p.m.

just reading every bodies comments on Brian Tamaki and yes I agree unless you have or are leading the christian life you would understand about giving I believe the vision the
church has for its members or anybody I would love for my grand children to be brought up in the ways of God brian Tamaki is doing a great Job with our nation and our children why pick on Brian?

Joe
05 Apr 2010 3:06a.m.

All I cAn say is.....Brian bolo tamaki has a pepelo PUKIO!!!

noboby
30 Mar 2010 9:49a.m.

BRIAN TAMAKI 4 PRIME MINISTER!

Mohammed
16 Mar 2010 11:19p.m.

Whats gonna happen when you sold everything you own gave all to his Church then fall with him later on. Totally FUBAR.

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