Hannah Tamaki meeting called off

Destiny Church pastor Hannah Tamaki. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A meeting between Destiny Church's Hannah Tamaki and a top Maori Women's Welfare League member was called off because of the ill-health of the organisation's president.

The league's general manager, Jacqui Te Kani, was to have met Mrs Tamaki yesterday in Auckland. On the agenda was the mess that has become the presidency race after Mrs Tamaki's bid was halted so the league can investigate Destiny-aligned branches.

The inquiry, also led by Mrs Te Kani, is investigating whether Destiny branches adhere to non-sectarian rules in the league's constitution.

Bishop Brian Tamaki's wife has taken High Court action to force the league to put her back in the election.

Meagan Joe, the first openly gay member to hold the league's presidency, is gravely ill. That meant the cancellation of the meeting.

Dame June Jackson, a supporter of Mrs Tamaki, claimed the appearance of the Destiny Church co-founder had been mocked by league members wearing platinum wigs, pearls and feather boas at a meeting on Saturday that was closed to Destiny branches.

A contingent of Destiny women caused tension by refusing to leave the meeting when Mrs Tamaki left.

Last night, Mrs Tamaki spoke about her hair colour at a youth gathering in Panmure.

She told about 200 people that her father, who was European, had white locks by the time he was 35.

She was now 50 and under her peroxide, or "toner", her hair was no different, she joked.

Briefly before the meeting, Mrs Tamaki told the Herald that she had sent flowers to Ms Joe.

"Aroha mai [sympathies] for the family.

"It is very, very sad that this has happened at this time."

She said she would keep campaigning but described the situation as weird given that her supporters might not even be able to vote for her.