Australian far-right figure Avi Yemini gets visa to visit Brian Tamaki in New Zealand

An infamous Australian-Israeli far-right social media personality denied entry to New Zealand once before, has been allowed into the country and is being hosted by Destiny Church.

Avi Yemini said in a video posted on X he was in New Zealand to “tell the other side of the story” about the church and its leader Brian Tamaki.

A statement from the church said Yemini arrived on Wednesday and will be filming a documentary on Tamaki “and his impactful work with indigenous Māori people”.

The Melbourne-based social media personality, known for his extremist far-right ideology and comments, has a conviction for unlawful assault against his former wife and was sued by his brother for defamation.

Avi Yemini says he is in New Zealand to “tell the other side of the story” about Destiny Church. Photo / Getty Images

In a statement today, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment director of visas Jock Gilray said Yemini had declared his convictions, they were considered as part of the visa application process, and he was granted a Visitor Visa.

In the videos, Yemini said he was going to be in New Zealand for a “couple of weeks” immersing himself in the life of Tamaki for an article.

There are a number of videos of him speaking this week at Man Up events, an off-shoot of the Destiny Church. On its website, Man Up says its mission is to help members overcome “domestic violence, anger, depression [and] addictions”.

Yemini said he would be following Tamaki around after being “impressed” by him and his work on a previous trip last year.

Brian Tamaki has been described as a father figure to men seeking a positive role model by Ezra Levant, the owner and chief executive of Rebel News. Photo / Alex Burton

In Destiny’s statement, they say the documentary was initiated by Ezra Levant, the owner and chief executive of Rebel News, an alternative media website headquartered in Canada.

In 2023, Tamaki was introduced to Levant and Yemini by Cam Slater when Yemini needed a venue for his book launch. Tamaki provided the Destiny Church building at the last minute.

Levant has funded a cameraman’s trip from Canada to New Zealand for the next 10 days, the statement said.

The statement said Levant was captivated by the Man Up men he met in New Zealand, who had “transformed their lives and received a second chance”.

He said Tamaki had become a father figure to men seeking a positive role model.

“Levant was also impressed with Destiny Church’s influence and impact in New Zealand. The church operates outside societal norms, exceeding in their mission and assignment.”

On his X account, Yemini said he was here on “an epic mission that I can’t wait to share with the world”.

Yemini was denied entry to the country in 2022 when he tried to join the masses at an anti-government protest at Parliament in August.

Yemini told his followers that while he was checking in, Qantas informed him Immigration New Zealand had flagged his passport. He was later advised by an immigration officer he was being denied entry.

He claimed the immigration officer said she made the decision after reading a story in the Herald.

He was granted a visa in 2023.

In June 2022, Victoria Police apologised to Yemini for wrongfully arresting him three times during protests in Melbourne in 2020 and 2021 while the self-described “citizen journalist” was filming for Rebel News.

In 2018, at a protest demonstration against the imprisonment of the far-right British activist, Tommy Robinson, in London, Yemini said he was “the world’s proudest Jewish Nazi”.

Yemini is due to join Tamaki at 11am on Saturday, June 22, at Britomart for a march up Queen St to Aotea Square, where a Man Up haka is to be performed.