Listen Now: 
February 18, 2025
Destiny Church actions strengthen Takatāpui support
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On February 18, 2025
Download AudioA takatāpui advocate says the escalating actions of the ‘Destiny Cult’ are strengthening Māori support for the takatāpui community.
Over the weekend, a group connected to Destiny Church barged into Auckland Pride Month events, intimidating children and parents in Te Atatū and disrupting the Ponsonby Pride Parade.
Former Green MP Elizabeth Kerekere says Māori have been at the forefront as allies due to the group’s misappropriation of haka and te ao Māori.
She says the group is glorifying Donald Trump-style rhetoric, which is anti-LGBTQI+ and anti-takatāpui.
“Despite the fact that we’ve got a right-wing government, the fact that our prime minister came out and said that this is not acceptable behaviour, it’s not enough just to say it. We have to actually do something about it. But I’m really pleased that in the scale of what’s happening around the world, that still in our country, people are prepared to say this isn’t right. We will not put up with it,” says Kerekere.
Police are investigating the incidents, and no arrests have been made so far.
RELATED NEWS
