I cant believe that the police chose to arrest nobody. And now that this "club" has been incited by its leader to commit criminal acts by telling them to "storm" the event, and the members followed "orders" and committed assault and tresspass, does that mean they have now become a criminal "gang" and should not be allowed to wear their "gang patch" motorcycle jackets in public anymore? I would say so
My wife got stuck in this. She came home shaking and is still shook up about it. Absolutely hideous. She said the worst thing was how they were using the haka - and it just sounded completely different to a normal haka, like the intention behind it was all wrong.
I’m so sorry to hear that Chris. The use of the haka is really devastating. The Māori Party made such a beautiful Instagram post about this. I worry about our tamariki Māori being sent a message that they have no home in te ao Māori if they’re queer - that couldn’t be further from the truth. I hope your wife is ok. Just gutting.
Thanks Emily, I hope no one thinks Te Atatū is like this - we lived there for 13 years and it's a lovely, inclusive community that we miss a lot (aside from our one terrible, no good neighbour).
The fact they came from elsewhere to spread this bile and ignorance is disgusting.
There was a lovely karakia at the centre this morning to cleanse it. Huge turnout!
I just don't even have words for this any more - my heart goes out to the whānau and tamariki in that room. Tamaki knows exactly what he is doing and he knows full well this is going to end with someone badly hurt - just nine months ago he was preaching "time to kill". Absolutely shameful that he is repeatedly allowed to get away from this without so much as a weak "well that's not very good is it" from the leaders of this country.
I totally agree. This was a hate crime and should be treated as such but my experience with police is that they do not see threats and attacks against our community as real harm.
And here I was telling my trans kid that there’s never been a safer/better time to be trans… I worry so much for all our queer kids and their families. FFS it’s a story about the sky, with someone in fancy dress! What does it matter what sexuality they have?!? Unfathomable.
I was at the protest against Polly Parker a couple of years ago and we ended up marching down Queen St after these Destiny thugs (not going to call them a church). They turned around and bum rushed the crowd. It was dangerous and scary as I was near the front. People got pushed and shoved and I will never forget the hatred on their faces. They also turn up at the weekly Palestine marches looking to cause trouble. How is it they don’t get arrested for all their aggressive behaviour is beyond me. They entered a public space and assaulted and threatened people. The police seem very happy to arrest 12 year olds wearing sweatshirts and disrespecting tikanga at funerals turning up on mass. Where were they when they knew the Destiny thugs would show up, and why did they take so long to respond. It’s like they get away with everything and the police, media and our government give them a free pass.
Exactly - the last time I was at the US embassy they had about 30 cops there - there were more cops than protestors and I watched them slam two teenage girls to the ground for having washable paint on their hands. I’ve been arrested peacefully protesting for “blocking roads” but you can punch a library staffer in the face and try to push a door down to attack kids and the cops don’t care.
It's pretty much inevitable that whenever some sleazy bible maggot holds forth on the subject of 'sodomy' we can all start counting down to the day when his, ahem, 'predilictions' are made embarrassingly public after he's caught with his kipper under the grill.
The deeply closeted old leather queen Tamaki is ripe for such exposure, and I for one will laugh myself sick when it inevitably happens.
They’re so insecure in their own masculinity that any “non confirming” expression of gender terrifies them and they’re so stunted emotionally that the only way they can express that fear is through violence and intimidation. I’d feel sorry for them, but mostly I just want them to grow up and act like rational humans
I was amongst those who created a human chain of protection’ to safeguard Friday prayers at Wellington mosque in 2019
Co-organiser of the human chain event Daniel Kleinsman said at the time, It’s not a new idea.
“It’s been organised overseas when Muslim and Jewish communities have been attacked. It’s a powerful symbol of support and love, but it’s also practical. It seeks to create a physical barrier of protection for those persecuted at this time.”
It is not right that police are leaving Tamaki and the public with the impression that Tamaki can get away with ordering and perpetrating threats and acts of violence.
This bit “I I just don’t understand how anyone can claim that they’re trying to protect families when they are literally traumatising children by their actions”
Exactly. They are frightening and intimidating children. WTF. They should be done for assault/ hate/ intimidation. They are appalling.
Given what happened, surely a police officer should be stationed at the door or stairs of every future similar event to ensure public safety/ law and order, then as soon as they touch that officer the "assault" has to be taken more seriously (alyhough it shouldn't be) - I hope Hugo gets the protection they need in wellington
Every time we try to say we have had threats the police say we need to cancel events. They always tell organisers to cancel - they never offer support.
That is so wrong. Police should be there to project people going about their lawful business not tell them to stop and stay at home because someone else might cause trouble if they dont. After all, who pays their salaries, if not the lawful taxpayer. Ugh makes me so mad.
A thought experiment - if I told police that I was organizing a perfectly legal event (like science-based story-time in a library, for example) and they said they can't guarantee my safety so I should cancel, and I tell them "thanks, but I am going ahead anyway and I expect them to protect me and attendees from miscreants and wrongdoers", but the police decide not to come and monitor things from a public-safety perspective, and then it all goes to sh1t because some bunch off @ssholes "storm" the event and people get hurt, I think the documented evidence that the police refused to ensure public safety from a small number of thugs would be a major embarrassment to both them and a government of "law and order" - after all, the police deal with marches of tens of thousands of people so stopping twenty or thirty people behaving badly is well withing their ambit
I also can't believe that Destiny church only has a few thousand followers - their own estimate is 6,000 which is probably inflated
Thank you so much for sharing Emily, absolutely harrowing to read what these poor kids and whanau had to experience on what should have been a lovely afternoon. Looking forward to Hugo’s show in Wellington, sounds like he was such a gem supporting those kids. Could we make a complaint to the police about their lack of arrests? Or do we have to have been there?
This kind of behaviour, and its targets, are far too close to the approach of Hitler and his thugs for any kind of comfort. Attacking those who don't conform to a narrow notion of 'normal' has been done too often before in human history and it always ends badly. The police and our unpleasant government should be paying much more serious attention to Tamaki and his mates. As it stands, they appear to approve of attacks on the public, including children.
And as was pointed out yesterday on Mountain Tui Substack, these thugs are agents of our government's most conservative and complicit politicians who use them as political porns.
Complicit politicians who remaining silent when acts of violence are being committed by these thugs, and standing with them in solidarity when society rejects their violent ideologies. .
Emily, thanks for writing this. I am disturbed by the thuggery that these men are resorting to try and interfere with others' lives. It is sad that these men are all in on intimidation and threatening things that they possibly do not understand or are scared of. This is the opposite of what true Christians should learn and be in our communities. No place for this behaviour. Dressing up in bikie leather is cosplay tough guy, and very fragile masculinity.
I cant believe that the police chose to arrest nobody. And now that this "club" has been incited by its leader to commit criminal acts by telling them to "storm" the event, and the members followed "orders" and committed assault and tresspass, does that mean they have now become a criminal "gang" and should not be allowed to wear their "gang patch" motorcycle jackets in public anymore? I would say so
I absolutely agree with you
My wife got stuck in this. She came home shaking and is still shook up about it. Absolutely hideous. She said the worst thing was how they were using the haka - and it just sounded completely different to a normal haka, like the intention behind it was all wrong.
Unbelievable they haven’t been arrested.
I’m so sorry to hear that Chris. The use of the haka is really devastating. The Māori Party made such a beautiful Instagram post about this. I worry about our tamariki Māori being sent a message that they have no home in te ao Māori if they’re queer - that couldn’t be further from the truth. I hope your wife is ok. Just gutting.
Thanks Emily, I hope no one thinks Te Atatū is like this - we lived there for 13 years and it's a lovely, inclusive community that we miss a lot (aside from our one terrible, no good neighbour).
The fact they came from elsewhere to spread this bile and ignorance is disgusting.
There was a lovely karakia at the centre this morning to cleanse it. Huge turnout!
Very sad to see this - I live in Tat too and I'm so sad and angry this happened in our neighbourhood. I hope your wife is doing ok.
I just don't even have words for this any more - my heart goes out to the whānau and tamariki in that room. Tamaki knows exactly what he is doing and he knows full well this is going to end with someone badly hurt - just nine months ago he was preaching "time to kill". Absolutely shameful that he is repeatedly allowed to get away from this without so much as a weak "well that's not very good is it" from the leaders of this country.
I totally agree. This was a hate crime and should be treated as such but my experience with police is that they do not see threats and attacks against our community as real harm.
And here I was telling my trans kid that there’s never been a safer/better time to be trans… I worry so much for all our queer kids and their families. FFS it’s a story about the sky, with someone in fancy dress! What does it matter what sexuality they have?!? Unfathomable.
The irony of them carrying signs saying "Let Kids be Kids" - they were the only ones preventing that.
Irony indeed. Hypocrisy too
I was at the protest against Polly Parker a couple of years ago and we ended up marching down Queen St after these Destiny thugs (not going to call them a church). They turned around and bum rushed the crowd. It was dangerous and scary as I was near the front. People got pushed and shoved and I will never forget the hatred on their faces. They also turn up at the weekly Palestine marches looking to cause trouble. How is it they don’t get arrested for all their aggressive behaviour is beyond me. They entered a public space and assaulted and threatened people. The police seem very happy to arrest 12 year olds wearing sweatshirts and disrespecting tikanga at funerals turning up on mass. Where were they when they knew the Destiny thugs would show up, and why did they take so long to respond. It’s like they get away with everything and the police, media and our government give them a free pass.
Exactly - the last time I was at the US embassy they had about 30 cops there - there were more cops than protestors and I watched them slam two teenage girls to the ground for having washable paint on their hands. I’ve been arrested peacefully protesting for “blocking roads” but you can punch a library staffer in the face and try to push a door down to attack kids and the cops don’t care.
It's pretty much inevitable that whenever some sleazy bible maggot holds forth on the subject of 'sodomy' we can all start counting down to the day when his, ahem, 'predilictions' are made embarrassingly public after he's caught with his kipper under the grill.
The deeply closeted old leather queen Tamaki is ripe for such exposure, and I for one will laugh myself sick when it inevitably happens.
He's waaaaaaaaay too interested in other people's s3x lives, thats for sure.
I wish I could like this comment multiple times 😂
They’re so insecure in their own masculinity that any “non confirming” expression of gender terrifies them and they’re so stunted emotionally that the only way they can express that fear is through violence and intimidation. I’d feel sorry for them, but mostly I just want them to grow up and act like rational humans
I was amongst those who created a human chain of protection’ to safeguard Friday prayers at Wellington mosque in 2019
Co-organiser of the human chain event Daniel Kleinsman said at the time, It’s not a new idea.
“It’s been organised overseas when Muslim and Jewish communities have been attacked. It’s a powerful symbol of support and love, but it’s also practical. It seeks to create a physical barrier of protection for those persecuted at this time.”
It is not right that police are leaving Tamaki and the public with the impression that Tamaki can get away with ordering and perpetrating threats and acts of violence.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1903/S00613/human-chain-of-protection-to-safeguard-friday-prayers.htm
Yes this whole thing has shown that police will not show up for us. We have to protect each other.
The act of forming a human chain is a symbolic gesture. In 2019 the police were there with us... they should have been with the library staff.
This bit “I I just don’t understand how anyone can claim that they’re trying to protect families when they are literally traumatising children by their actions”
Exactly. They are frightening and intimidating children. WTF. They should be done for assault/ hate/ intimidation. They are appalling.
Thank you for sharing, Emily. I am equal parts furious and devastated by the actions of this vicious mob, and the fear they invoke.
Enjoy a well-earned break this week 💖
Given what happened, surely a police officer should be stationed at the door or stairs of every future similar event to ensure public safety/ law and order, then as soon as they touch that officer the "assault" has to be taken more seriously (alyhough it shouldn't be) - I hope Hugo gets the protection they need in wellington
Every time we try to say we have had threats the police say we need to cancel events. They always tell organisers to cancel - they never offer support.
That is so wrong. Police should be there to project people going about their lawful business not tell them to stop and stay at home because someone else might cause trouble if they dont. After all, who pays their salaries, if not the lawful taxpayer. Ugh makes me so mad.
A thought experiment - if I told police that I was organizing a perfectly legal event (like science-based story-time in a library, for example) and they said they can't guarantee my safety so I should cancel, and I tell them "thanks, but I am going ahead anyway and I expect them to protect me and attendees from miscreants and wrongdoers", but the police decide not to come and monitor things from a public-safety perspective, and then it all goes to sh1t because some bunch off @ssholes "storm" the event and people get hurt, I think the documented evidence that the police refused to ensure public safety from a small number of thugs would be a major embarrassment to both them and a government of "law and order" - after all, the police deal with marches of tens of thousands of people so stopping twenty or thirty people behaving badly is well withing their ambit
I also can't believe that Destiny church only has a few thousand followers - their own estimate is 6,000 which is probably inflated
Arrgh it all makes me so mad
Thank you so much for sharing Emily, absolutely harrowing to read what these poor kids and whanau had to experience on what should have been a lovely afternoon. Looking forward to Hugo’s show in Wellington, sounds like he was such a gem supporting those kids. Could we make a complaint to the police about their lack of arrests? Or do we have to have been there?
I don’t think the police will do anything about complaints tbh
Standard from nz police!
This kind of behaviour, and its targets, are far too close to the approach of Hitler and his thugs for any kind of comfort. Attacking those who don't conform to a narrow notion of 'normal' has been done too often before in human history and it always ends badly. The police and our unpleasant government should be paying much more serious attention to Tamaki and his mates. As it stands, they appear to approve of attacks on the public, including children.
And as was pointed out yesterday on Mountain Tui Substack, these thugs are agents of our government's most conservative and complicit politicians who use them as political porns.
Complicit politicians who remaining silent when acts of violence are being committed by these thugs, and standing with them in solidarity when society rejects their violent ideologies. .
I mean, just look at the "black shirts" and the line of 5 big metal stars on Tamaki's leather jacket - it just screams 1930s para-military hate group
Emily, thanks for writing this. I am disturbed by the thuggery that these men are resorting to try and interfere with others' lives. It is sad that these men are all in on intimidation and threatening things that they possibly do not understand or are scared of. This is the opposite of what true Christians should learn and be in our communities. No place for this behaviour. Dressing up in bikie leather is cosplay tough guy, and very fragile masculinity.
God this makes my heart hurt. And the fact no one got arrested makes me angry.