PHOTO: Destiny Church is led by Brian Tamaki and his wife Hannah Tamaki
In a surprising turn of events, Destiny Church is leaving its massive, purpose-built premises in South Auckland after more than ten years of operations — and the reasons behind the move may raise eyebrows.
The church’s headquarters on Druces Rd in Wiri, often dubbed the City of God, was first unveiled in 2012 as an ambitious project to bring all facets of the church’s mission under one roof. Once a humble pillow factory, the property underwent a significant transformation — thanks largely to the sale of Destiny’s Mount Wellington property and mandatory $1000 tithes from its members.
The final structure opened in 2014, but according to many, it never quite matched the grand vision that Bishop Brian Tamaki promised when he was famously asking for “lots of pennies” to fund it.
Now, after more than a decade, Destiny Church is packing up. A spokesperson insists the move is nothing more than a “routine commercial matter,” stating:
“The building is old, the new owners have redevelopment plans, and remaining onsite is no longer possible. This is simply due to the long-expected end of our lease term.”
However, experts aren’t entirely convinced that it’s business as usual.
Massey University Emeritus Professor Peter Lineham, a long-time commentator on religious movements in New Zealand, expressed his shock at the decision:
“There are so many aspects to the Wiri site — a school, health centre, a gym — all serving a very disadvantaged community. How will Destiny replicate that impact elsewhere?”
Professor Lineham also pointed to a significant drop in Destiny’s congregation numbers. From its peak of around 2,500 attendees in packed services, the church may now have less than half that number.
“Destiny places a big priority on high-earning members. If their income base has shrunk, it’s no surprise they can’t afford to keep the site running.”
Adding fuel to the fire is journalist John Campbell’s documentary series Under His Command on TVNZ+, which investigates Destiny Church’s financial operations — particularly the controversial tithing practice.
As Destiny Church moves out, questions remain about its future. Will the organisation maintain its influence and operations at a new location? Or is this the beginning of a new chapter — or perhaps the end of an era?
SOURCE: 1NEWS