Destiny Church leader says Australian authorities detained and expelled him after lengthy questioning

Brian Tamaki, the controversial leader of Destiny Church, reported that upon landing in Brisbane he was intercepted by Australian Border Force officers and taken to a confined space for a 12-hour interrogation. He said the questioning focused on his public statements about mass immigration, Islam, Sikhism and remarks concerning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After an overnight stay in a detention facility, officials allegedly revoked his visa and forced his return to New Zealand.

Tamaki framed the episode as a coordinated effort by New Zealand and Australian authorities to silence him. The episode occurred a day after he entered a not-guilty plea in the Manukau District Court over alleged Facebook posts that could incite racial disharmony. He also referenced earlier scrutiny by New Zealand police and politician Mark Mitchell regarding the same comments. No comment was obtained from Australian Border Force or Destiny Church.