Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has pleaded not guilty to three charges of inciting racial harmony in the Manukau District Court.
The charges were laid under the Humans Rights Act, with the alleged offending taking place in June including multiple Facebook posts.
The posts relating to the alleged offending were described as "abusive" and "insulting" likely to excite "ill will".
Speaking to media outside court, Tamaki said he did not know what posts specifically the charges were about but he suspected it was his comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tamaki's supporters gathered outside court holding signs and cheering as he left the courtroom.
The 68-year-old has been granted bail and will appear again on January 25 2027.
Speaking outside court, Tamaki told media it was not him but "free speech" that was on trial.
"That must concern every New Zealander when a dangerous trajectory happened in our democracy last week, when this summons was given to me," he said.
"It definitely has a huge concern for the public of New Zealand, free speech and free expression I believe is now under attack from our government and the police, and I think this will be a landmark case."
He said last week he had "never threatened anyone" and "never advocated violence against anyone".
"I have consistently challenged religious beliefs, religious practices and political leaders - NOT people because of their race," he said.
"I have Indian friends. I have people from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in my church."
An anti-immigration protest has been planned by Destiny Church for later this month in downtown Auckland.
It comes after Tamaki's guns were seized by police in June, when he was served a firearms temporary licence suspension notice.
At the time, Superintendent Shanan Gray said: "A person’s licence can be temporarily suspended while the firearms regulator investigates further, to ensure the licence holder remains ‘fit and proper’ to possess a firearm."
Earlier that month, Tamaki had made comments on social media, where he called for New Zealand to "purge" Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a cyclone hits the Cook Islands, and the FlyDubai pilot speaks about being attacked. (Source: Breakfast)
SHARE ME