Destiny Church to build its own 'town'

Destiny Church plan to build its own 'town' in South Auckland. Photo / NZ Herald

Destiny Church has reportedly obtained resource consent to build its own "town" in South Auckland.

Bishop Brian Tamaki told his Rotorua congregation a contract had been signed and the church will take control of a three hectare block of land on Druces Road, Wiri, in December, One News reported.

"We had to get resource consent, meaning that the council would let us build our schools, our auditorium - basically building a town," he said. "We got it."

In the One News footage the self-proclaimed bishop outlined his plans for the town, which will include schools, a university and a massive auditorium.

The Destiny leader is now appealing for donations from his followers to help fund the town.

"Much of your seed is going to go toward the foundations of an offering toward our promised land, and that beginning is not going to come without a fruitful start financially," Mr Tamaki said.

The controversial church will lease the property, but has the option of purchasing the land once it has sold its Mt Wellington headquarters, One News reported.

In 2008, Destiny refuted a TV3 report the church was planning to build a 8.1ha exclusive "kingdom" in Manukau where parishioners would be protected from the outside world.

In 2006, however, Mr Tamaki was quoted in Rotorua's Daily Post as saying Destiny planned to create a "city within a city" which would help to preserve the church's DNA.

- Herald online