Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says he’s been denied entry into Australia – a day after pleading not guilty in court to charges of inciting racial disharmony.
In a video posted to social media this afternoon, the controversial figure said he flew to Australia with his family on Tuesday morning, where he had been scheduled to speak at a Destiny Church conference in Brisbane.
However, Tamaki said on his arrival, he was taken aside to a room by the Australian Border Force.
"And then for the next 12 hours straight, I was interrogated," he said. "Then I was put into a confinement place for to stay overnight before I was sent home because they actually cancelled my visa and basically deported me or sent home.
"In the meantime, I was under guard at a confinement detention immigration detention centre. So, it was a whole day spent on Tuesday being interrogated by different border control officers in a tiny cell, cell-like room, shut doors, and it was a very intense time."
Tamaki claimed Australian Border Force documents described his statements on social media as "inflammatory and concerning".
On Monday, the 68-year-old pleaded not guilty in the Manukau District Court to three charges of inciting racial harmony.
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", "insulting" and likely to excite "ill will".
Speaking to media outside court after Monday's appearance, 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.
He had been granted bail and will appear again on January 25, 2027.
In Thursday's video, Tamaki said the court appearance had been "a summons about free speech".
He alleged New Zealand and Australia had "collaborated together to basically go after one person to silence them".
"That's what it was about: Censoring and silencing Brian Tamaki, not only in New Zealand, but now Australia want to silence me in their country."
Australia's Department of Home Affairs has been contacted by 1News for comment.
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