New Zealand police permanently revoked the firearms licence of Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki, who has vowed to challenge the ban in court [1].
The legal battle highlights the tension between New Zealand's strict firearms regulations and the claims of political targeting by a high-profile religious leader.
Tamaki said the revocation occurred on Friday [1]. According to reports, the licence was cancelled two days before a post he made on Facebook [3].
Tamaki said the ban is a result of retaliation for his criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi [2]. He said that both police and politicians are behind the decision to remove his legal right to possess firearms [1].
The Destiny Church leader has not yet filed the formal court proceedings but indicated that he will seek to overturn the permanent revocation [1]. Police have not provided a public statement regarding the specific legal grounds for the cancellation of the licence [1].
This dispute follows a history of legal friction between Tamaki and New Zealand authorities. The current conflict centers on whether the revocation was a standard application of public safety laws or a targeted act of censorship [1, 2].
“Police permanently revoked his firearms licence and he has vowed to take the firearms ban to court”
This case tests the boundaries of firearms licensing in New Zealand, where authorities have broad discretion to revoke permits based on fitness and safety. By framing the revocation as political retaliation involving international diplomacy, Tamaki is attempting to shift the narrative from a regulatory matter to a question of civil liberties and freedom of speech.
