Stuff.co.nz
VideoDestiny Church leader Brian Tamaki is refusing to rule out standing at the next election, a move which could provide a rallying point for conservative Christian voters.
Bishop Tamaki upstaged an international conference promoting religious tolerance yesterday, leading more than 2000 followers in a protest against a New Zealand statement of religious diversity which says the country has no "established or official religion".
The statement was overseen by Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres and is a key focus for the New Zealand delegation at the third Asia Pacific Interfaith Dialogue in Waitangi.
But Bishop Tamaki branded it "treason" for failing to properly recognise New Zealand's Christian past, and delivered his own statement - complete with spelling mistake - which demanded the Government "formerly (sic) recognise" New Zealand as a Christian nation.
"Our government intends on presenting to primarily what are Muslim and Hindu and Buddhist countries that New Zealand has no established religion. I contend and say that we do have an established religion, it's Christianity and I think ... every New Zealander should be involved in making that officially recognised."
His demand was supported by Maori activist Titewhai Harawira, who was at the protest.
The demonstration was the second time Bishop Tamaki has prominently entered the political arena this month; he led a rally against the anti-smacking bill at Parliament.
He refused to dampen speculation it foreshadowed him leading the church's political wing, Destiny New Zealand, in 2008.
The party won 0.62 per cent of the vote in 2005, but could be more significant in 2008 after the demise of Christian Heritage, which was deregistered after leader Graham Capill was jailed for child sex offences.
Bishop Tamaki has also been courting independent MP Taito Phillip Field as a possible candidate in a move which could broaden its support among Maori and Pacific Islanders.
Yesterday's protest came as 165 religious and cultural leaders from 15 countries gathered at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for the forum, sponsored by the New Zealand, Australian, Indonesian and Philippines governments.
The talks grew as a response to the 2002 Bali bombings, and aim to prevent religious-inspired terrorism by building links between various faiths in what is potentially the world's most volatile region.
In a sign of the importance they are afforded by member states, the opening was attended by Prime Minister Helen Clark, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
Miss Clark defended the statement's refusal to recognise Christianity as the state religion.
"New Zealand has never had a state religion - most countries don't."
Helen Clark often annoys me with her relativist tendencies, but her complete indifference to anything the Destiny Church has to say makes me smile.
