Brian Rudman: Destiny can spread the word in own backyard

Those Destiny Church blackshirts are like V8s on legs. They're claiming a God-given right to gridlock the harbour bridge and make a great hoo-ha around Victoria Park, and expect the rest of us to welcome them with open arms.

Well, not me. If they want to go strutting about shouting their messages they should do it in their own backwoods down Mt Wellington way.

If it's an aerobic workout they are hoping for by crossing the bridge, then the Rev Brian Tamaki can play the Duke of York and march them up to the top of their local volcano and march them down again.

Perhaps if they wrote a polite note, Prince Harry might send them some nice armbands to go with their uniforms.

You might have guessed by now that I don't warm to this lot. I'm usually all for a good old-fashioned demo, but this politico-religious cult gives me the creeps.

They certainly shouldn't be allowed to bully their way into taking over the harbour bridge as a platform for their political games.

It was good to see usually mild-mannered North Shore Mayor George Wood yesterday proposing a lengthy jail sentence for organisers if they carried out their threat to defy authorities and illegally march 20,000 anti-civil union protesters across the bridge on March 5.

Mr Wood's hand-slap sparked a response from Destiny spokeswoman Janine Cardno, who said "we intend to fully comply with the authorities' final decision on this event. But we do expect a fair hearing".

These words can be read as a backdown, or a threat. Time will tell which this is.

But the police must be regretting the precedent they set last April when they succumbed to similar bullying from the foreshore hikoi marchers after bridge operators, Transit New Zealand, had refused to let them across.

After a stand-off, acting North Shore district commander Dick Trimble closed two northbound lanes in the interests of public safety after the 2000 marchers warned they were coming, ready or not. This, despite Transit's objection that it was illegal to walk on a state highway.

This time, Transit and the police are singing from the same hymn book and have refused the marchers access. Motorway Police Inspector Dave Walker says a march would be "a nightmare" for the network, with certain gridlock. There were also safety and structural issues.

Naturally enough, Destiny claims the hikoi is a precedent they should be allowed to follow.

Transit Auckland regional manager Wayne McDonald says it's not just a matter of traffic management, it's also "a genuine concern" for the health of the marchers. Thousands of people striding across the bridge sets it swaying and causes seasickness.

The only exception Transit makes is for major sporting events, such as the Auckland marathon, in which all runners have to be off the bridge by 8.30am on the Saturday of the event.

Organisers also pay around $50,000 for the privilege.

Church organisers met Auckland City officials on Wednesday to discuss possible venues for the post-march rally.

Destiny has been advertising the Domain, but has been told political-type rallies are banned there. Among alternatives on offer are the "passive" end of Victoria Park, (the main sports grounds is already booked for school cricket), Myers Park, Western Park and Pt Erin Park.

They'll be brave little Christians if they go for the latter two, both of which are in strolling distance of Gay Lynn, home of Destiny's scariest demons. I can see it now. The Hero Parade's Marching Boys meet the Destiny Rough Diamonds.

There won't be a roadside cafe table for love or money in Ponsonby on that fun day.

Jesting aside, if the fundies want to fret publicly about civil unions being the end of civilisation, you would have thought they'd at least practise the old values they preach by obeying a policeman when he orders you not to walk on a motorway.