Brian Tamaki claims guns seized because of likely visit to NZ from Indian Prime Minister

Brian Tamaki has claimed his guns were seized because the Government and police are “bending over backwards” ahead of an anticipated visit to New Zealand by the Indian Prime Minister.

Police, meanwhile, have warned Tamaki that they believe comments he made on his podcast were “encouraging violence and significant property damage”, according to documents the Destiny Church leader has published online.

Tamaki has strongly criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a publicly posted podcast video, accusing him of targeting Christians in India and allowing churches to be razed. He then called for mosques and temples in New Zealand to be burned down in a “tit for tat” move.

He has since claimed he did not mean what he said and was speaking figuratively.

Tamaki, who had his firearms licence suspended and guns seized by police on Tuesday, claimed the documents show diplomatic pressure from India was behind the move.

Modi is tipped to visit New Zealand after the signing of the Indian Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in late April, with an announcement on his arrival expected soon.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Tamaki accused the police and the Government of “taking my guns to please Modi” after an official notice from the Firearms Safety Authority on his temporary gun suspension.

“Modi this. Modi that. Modi four times in one letter! While they’re trying to rip my firearms licence away, all they care about is saving face for Modi and keeping that Free Trade Agreement alive. They don’t actually think I’m a danger with a gun. Nah. They’re terrified I’ve embarrassed their special guest.”

In a statement to the Herald today, he called for “Modi’s visit to be banned and for the India-NZ FTA to be torpedoed”.

“It will only accelerate mass immigration into New Zealand. There is no future for our children if we continue down this path.

“The Herald asks whether I believe the Indian Government has taken an interest in me. We already know they have. The Indian Government publicly confirmed it raised formal concerns with the New Zealand Government following our Sikh protest. That’s on the public record.

“Given that history, I think it’s entirely reasonable to ask whether further diplomatic representations have been made concerning my criticism of Narendra Modi or my opposition to his visit. It’s a fair question. If no representations have been made, the NZ Government should simply say so.”

The police notice that Tamaki published outlined the concerns that led to his licence being removed while assessments were made on whether he was a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence.

While the notice does not mention diplomatic concerns or any pressure from officials or politicians, either here or overseas, it refers directly to Tamaki’s comments related to Modi.

“In the video, you claim the Prime Minister of India is killing Christians, is currently purging India of all Christians, and burning church buildings down. You then state in the video: ‘I think we should reciprocate in kind. Let’s purge New Zealand of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims and, while we’re at it, if they’re burning churches down, why don’t we burn mosques and their temples down’.”

The documents also refer to Tamaki’s comments accusing Modi of allowing child marriage and mass rape of young girls, after which Tamaki said that, “as a father and a grandfather and a great-grandfather”, he would use his pig-hunting gun in response to such “despicable” behaviour.

“Police consider that your published video, freely available to any person to view, and in light of your large and well-established following and significant public profile, constitutes the encouragement and promotion of violent action and significant property damage,” the notice reads.

The Herald has asked police whether the documents are authentic, and on what grounds the gun licence suspension was issued.

The Herald has also asked whether the decision was influenced in any way by diplomatic pressure from the Indian Government or concerns around any upcoming visit by Modi.