Destiny Church to spread word at Waitangi

The Destiny Church will be taking its message to Waitangi this weekend.

The church's leader, Brian Tamaki, will join politicians and political parties pitching for votes at a forum set up next to Te Tii Marae on Saturday.

"It is an open forum for political parties and political individuals. Destiny will be there," said Nuki Aldridge, spokesman for the Ngapuhi council of tribal elders.

Destiny Church has links to Destiny New Zealand, a new political party formed by members of the church hoping to turn New Zealand into "a model nation under God's governance". The party is led by former policeman Richard Lewis and although Pastor Tamaki has no formal ties to the party, his church does support its political policies.

Te Tii Marae media liaison spokesman Mike Smith said although it was the first year Destiny was attending, the political forum was not new.

He said it was a time for political debate on Treaty of Waitangi issues.

"All of them come, from [Green MPs] Sue Bradford and Nandor Tanczos marching across the bridge to New Zealand First.

[National Party leader] Don Brash will probably be turning out, and Dover [Samuels] and Parekura [Horomia] will be hovering around."

A large Maori Party contingent, fresh from selecting Hone Harawira as Te Tai Tokerau candidate last weekend, is expected at the forum.

But Mr Smith has warned that Te Tii Marae, historically an area of political protest and the place where Dr Brash was pelted with mud last year, is not a place for protest.