Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says he has been denied entry into Australia, questioned by border authorities for 12 hours and sent back to New Zealand after officials cancelled his visa.
The development comes just days after Tamaki appeared in the Manukau District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to three charges of inciting racial disharmony under the Human Rights Act.
Tamaki revealed the Australian border incident in a video posted to social media, claiming he was detained after arriving in Australia on Tuesday morning.
He had travelled with family members and was scheduled to speak at a Destiny Church conference in Brisbane.
Twelve Hours of Questioning at the Border
According to Tamaki, Australian Border Force officers intercepted him shortly after his arrival and took him into a separate room for questioning.
He claims he was interrogated for approximately 12 hours before being transferred to immigration detention overnight.
Tamaki says authorities subsequently cancelled his visa and arranged for his return to New Zealand.
The Destiny Church leader also claims documents supplied by Australian authorities raised concerns about statements he had made on social media, which officials reportedly considered inflammatory.
Those claims have not been independently confirmed by Australian immigration authorities.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has been approached by media for comment.
Court Charges Add to Controversy
The border incident follows Tamaki’s appearance in the Manukau District Court on Monday, October 19.
The 68-year-old pleaded not guilty to three charges of inciting racial disharmony relating to alleged offending in June, including statements published on social media.
The charges were brought under the Human Rights Act.
Tamaki has denied wrongdoing and maintains that his comments concerned religious beliefs and political leaders rather than people because of their ethnicity.
He has previously suggested the allegations may relate to comments he made about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the treatment of Christians in India.
The case remains before the courts, with Tamaki granted bail and scheduled to reappear on January 25, 2027.
Tamaki Claims Free Speech Is Under Attack
Tamaki has characterised both his prosecution in New Zealand and his treatment at the Australian border as attempts to restrict his freedom of expression.
He has alleged that authorities in the two countries acted together to prevent him from speaking publicly.
However, no evidence has been publicly established to support his allegation of coordinated action between the New Zealand and Australian governments.
The Australian Government has not publicly confirmed the specific reasons for the reported visa cancellation.
Why Can Australia Refuse Entry to New Zealanders?
Although New Zealand citizens generally enjoy relatively straightforward entry arrangements with Australia, those arrangements are not unconditional.
Eligible New Zealand passport holders can ordinarily receive a Special Category Visa on arrival, allowing them to live, work and study in Australia.
However, Australian immigration rules include character and behavioural requirements.
Authorities can refuse or cancel visas where a person does not meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
Whether those provisions formed the legal basis for the action reportedly taken against Tamaki has not been independently confirmed.
Questions Remain Over Australian Decision
The incident raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the reported visa cancellation, including which immigration provisions were applied and whether Tamaki intends to challenge the decision.
It also comes amid continuing public debate in Aotearoa about the boundaries of freedom of expression, religious commentary and legal protections against racial disharmony.
While Tamaki maintains that his statements fall within his right to free speech, the allegations against him remain subject to judicial determination.
For now, the Destiny Church leader is back in New Zealand, his planned Australian appearance has been disrupted, and he faces an ongoing court case over allegations of inciting racial disharmony.
The precise legal grounds for Australia’s reported decision remain unconfirmed pending an official explanation from Australian authorities.
#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #BrianTamaki #DestinyChurch #Australia #AustralianBorderForce #VisaCancellation #Immigration #FreeSpeech #HumanRightsAct #RacialDisharmony #ManukauDistrictCourt #NZNews #AustralianNews #CrimeAndJustice #ReligiousFreedom #Aotearoa #BreakingNews
