Grifter Eftpos Tamaki at it again

Nov 17, 2024

Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.

This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or harrassing the Rainbow community:

Nope. This time, his “godly” wrath was aimed at… flags.

It seems that “The Bish” is fast running out of issues to whip his followers into a frenzy with… so he’s settled on flags. Or, more precisely, the union jack-and-southern-cross flag foisted on this nation by the colonial government.

This one:

Not this one (sadly):

Desperate to insert himself into the quagmire of Seymour’s odiously divisive and nakedly self-serving Treaty Principles Bill, Tamaki has railed against Māori use of the tino rangatiratanga flag (left) - and possibly the United Tribes flag (right). These ones:

Tamaki said:

“But you don’t see Kiwis hang the flags outside their houses or their businesses or in their cars. And yet there are a lot of other flags I see flying in my country that are not this flag.”

And:

“This Saturday will be a Patriotic Parade down Auckland’s Motorway, New Zealand Flags proudly flying.
Particularly the Māori sovereignty flags, Palestine sovereignty flags and Khalistan (Indian Sikh) sovereignty flags” [should be banned].
The Auckland Domain is our home ground of National significance, the home of our National War Memorial honouring those who fought for our faith, freedoms and flag.”

For that, he and his gullible minions blocked a major arterial route to our largest city:

The convoy caused long delays on State Highway 1 as it made its way to the Auckland Domain on Saturday for a 'Make New Zealand Great Again' rally.
It was led by about 100 people on motorcycles, with others waving flags from accompanying vehicles.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Naila Hassan said some people entered the motorway network on foot, while others joined them by exiting vehicles.

He had not sought a permit for his “protest action”.

As usual, Tamaki picks-and-chooses his “issues” - often contradictory. Consistency and logic are not being his strong points.

In the past, as Tamaki has rallied his followers, both the tino rangatiratanga and the United Tribes flags were very much in open display, alongside the official New Zealand flag.

In October 2021:

In July 2022:

In August 2022:

Again August 2022:

More from August 2022:

In November 2024:

In reality, Tamaki has courted Māori sovereignty when it suited him. He has shamelessly exploited Māori discontent to build support for himself and his corrupt pseudo-church.

It remains to be seen if tino rangatiratanga and the United Tribes flags will be on display in any of his forthcoming rallies. If so, will he instruct his black-garbed henchmen to have them removed - by force if necessary? How will that go down with the mob, many of whom support tino rangatiratanga?

Police have condemned the blocking of SH1:

They had been monitoring it – but were not aware of plans for people to be on the motorway on foot.
“It has subsequently become quite clear that this is what organisers had planned, and there is simply no excuse for putting other road users at risk,” Hassan said.
“This behaviour was reckless, unlawful and extremely irresponsible.”

Tamaki has also thumbed his nose at lockdowns during the Covid19 emergency, organising mass rallies where masking and social distancing were not observed.

As his “church” and “Man up” movement morphs from proto-fascist to full-throated fascism, Tamaki will challenge the authority of the State and society’s tolerance until he ends up in jail. This is his plan.

It worked for a certain Austrian in April 1924, gifting the nascent Nazi dictator with free publicity, credibility, and martyrdom which he exploited to good effect.

But Tamaki will have no such success and will simply remain a boil on this nation’s collective backside.

References

RNZ: Brian Tamaki convoy causes traffic woes in Auckland

Scoop media: Views And Counter Views At Destiny Protest

Gisborne Herald: Tamaki claims he ordered rainbow crossing to be painted white

NewstalkZB: Brian Tamaki's 'flag' protesters arrive in Auckland after causing motorway delays

NZ Herald: Auckland traffic mayhem expected as Brian Tamaki rally to travel up SH1

RNZ: Brian Tamaki convoy causes traffic woes in Auckland

The Conversation: Spirit of resistance - why Destiny Church and other New Zealand Pentecostalists oppose lockdowns and vaccination

TV3/Newshub: Police monitoring potential protest as Freedom and Rights Coalition aim to cause 'chaos' across New Zealand

TV3/Newshub: Anti-Government protest ends peacefully, handful of protesters remain

TVNZ News: Brian Tamaki leads new protest around Auckland streets