Amid controversy, New Zealand’s Destiny Church and The Freedoms & Rights Coalition leader Brian Tamaki has intensified debate over unchecked immigration and social cohesion, after alleging that Khalistan flags were displayed during a religious procession in South Auckland.
In a series of posts on X, Tamaki framed the incident as evidence of what he described as a failure of assimilation and national leadership. He alleged that foreign political movements were being imported into New Zealand and warned of long-term consequences for social cohesion.
“Amongst these Sikhs were a strong contingent flying the Khalistan flags. The Khalistan movement is a terrorist Sikh political movement, linked overseas to terrorist violence and instability,” Tamaki wrote in his post.
He further claimed in his post,
“They call out on Auckland streets for Modi to be killed. Their symbols and activism are now being openly displayed here in New Zealand… with no scrutiny and no accountability. NZ Police do nothing. Our politicians are even defending them.”
Tamaki went on to describe immigration as a “mass invasion” and argued that multiculturalism without firm limits leads to division rather than unity. He defended the haka performed by his supporters as a peaceful assertion of identity, describing it as “a line in the sand” rather than an act of hostility.
The controversy followed a religious procession held in Manurewa on Saturday, where members of Destiny Church briefly disrupted the event by performing a haka along Great South Road.
It was reported that the Police intervened to prevent further disruption and escorted procession participants along the remainder of their route. Police said approximately 50 people attempted to block Great South Road during the event. Inspector Matt Hoyes told The Indian Weekender that officers “acted swiftly to ensure the parade was able to safely continue.”
The procession, organised by a local gurdwara, involved hundreds of participants and covered a distance of around five kilometres – many carrying Khalistan flags as pointed by Tamaki in a video shared in his post on X.
Eyewitnesses said the event concluded without further incident once Destiny Church members were moved away from the route.
While Tamaki’s comments resonated with his supporters, they were strongly criticised by political leaders and community representatives, who without mentioning the presence of Khalistan flags, expressed concern about the conduct of the counter-demonstration and its impact on religious freedom.
Tamaki-linked group was also seen carrying a banner saying: ‘This is New Zealand, not India’.
Several New Zealand MPs have condemned the actions of Destiny Church–linked groups during the recent religious procession in South Auckland, framing the incident as an attempt to provoke and intimidate the community.
Dr Paramjit Parmar, MP, warned community against being used for political gain. She said: “The Sikh community sees clearly what Brian Tamaki is trying to do. They understand he is attempting to provoke hatred towards migrants and create divisions for his personal political gain…”
“Our country is stronger when we discuss the issues calmly as neighbours and deny divisive politics any attention that it seeks.”
Oriini Kaipara, MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, condemned the use of haka by the group, describing it as a misuse of Māori culture to intimidate others:
“It was targeted disruption that weaponised culture, identity, and public space to shame and exclude people who are valued members of our wider whānau.”
Both MPs emphasised the importance of protecting communities, upholding tikanga Māori, and rejecting hate and division in New Zealand’s multicultural society.
Indian-origin Labour MP and former minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan also condemned the disruption, warning that rhetoric and behaviour that single out minority communities risk normalising intimidation and hate.
In a Facebook post, she noted that New Zealand is home to people who speak hundreds of languages and practise many faiths. She added that attempts to dictate who is or is not “Kiwi enough” undermine the inclusive values on which the country is built, cautioning that such “othering” can lead to fear, exclusion and, ultimately, violence.
Former Indian-origin Member of Parliament Kawaljit Singh Bakshi said the incident highlighted a dangerous blurring of protest and intimidation. In a detailed social media post, Bakshi argued that while protest is a democratic right, it carries a responsibility to respect others.
Retired Indian diplomat Amar Jit Singh IFS has weighed in on the recent South Auckland Sikh procession, urging Sikh leadership to address the alleged misuse of religious events for political agendas. In a post on X, he said: “Until and unless we agree that Nagar Kirtans and Gurdwara stages are excessively used as readymade lucrative bases by Khalistanis to advance the agenda of ISI and others of extremism and separatism, the problem will continue staring in our face…”
“Those who spread hate, violence, separatism and even terrorism as their mission taking the cover of religion deserve to be declared Tankhaiyas besides being excommunicated from the Panth.”
Singh described the incident as an “inflection point” and called on Sikh scholars, religious leaders, and political figures to take decisive action against those misusing religious platforms, warning that silence or inaction only perpetuates such challenges.
Meanwhile, Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, condemned Tamaki’s actions, calling it an unfortunate incident that threatened communal harmony.
Destiny Church, founded by Brian and Hannah Tamaki in 1998, has a long history of staging high-profile protests in Auckland, including marches targeting immigration and non-Christian religions.
Tamaki has previously described migration as an “invasion” and criticised religious processions for road closures and the carrying of ceremonial weapons.
The Australia Today has reached out to Auckland Council for further clarification regarding this procession but are yet to receive a response.
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