That turned out to be a mistake, based on his misreading of New Zealand society. New Zealand is a secular society but is not irreligious. People support religions and religious causes and charities, but do not want religious people telling them what to do. Destiny began preaching moral improvement. It still does that and it is the source of its appeal and strength.
It has a membership mainly comprising people who have turned to God and Bishop Tamaki to improve what they perceive to be wrong in their lives - booze, drugs, cigarettes, undisciplined sex, compulsive gambling, marital problems, violence and crime. It is often labelled a ''Maori'' church.
It attracts Maori because of Bishop Tamaki's background, but has members and leaders from other ethnic backgrounds, too. Being seen as mainly Maori may have limited the growth its founder planned, but is also a part of its enduring strength. Destiny has attracted many people in despair and given them comfort.
This has to be the mainspring of its positive contribution to New Zealand. It is a demanding church. Members are tithed - required to contribute one-tenth of their income to Bishop Tamaki - and required to conform to his demands. In return, they receive leadership and comfort. Bishop Tamaki began as an intolerant man on a mission but time has mellowed him.
He led public protests fuelled by the then Labour government's reforms on homosexuality, along with other issues, that ''Enough Is Enough''. These were well-organised and striking public events, with black-clothed protesters. They reminded people of Nazi rallies in Hitlerian Germany,
a political no-no. Destiny protesters struck the wrong note and were politically naive. Bruised by this failure to attract public support, Destiny has largely withdrawn from politics and is not as politically alarming as it once was.
How far Bishop Tamaki has withdrawn from what became seen as public and obligatory homophobia is manifest in his agreement to co-operate with Peter Lineham in this book. Lineham is a self-described ''gay Christian''. He is an academic, based at Massey University, specialising in humanities and social sciences. He has published extensively on religion in New Zealand.
Even with all his experience, this is not an easy read for a secular reader. It seems to wander all over the place. But, being based on interviews with Bishop Tamaki and his co-pastor wife (Hannah), and many of their co-workers, it will be essential reading for anyone wishing to understand Destiny.
- Oliver Riddell is a retired journalist in Wellington.
