Police have made four arrests after a Destiny Church-linked protest during a drag event at an Auckland community centre last month.

The melee occurred at the Te Atatū Community Centre on February 15 and saw protesters linked to the controversial church punching, pushing and shoving their way inside.

Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan said police attended addresses in south and West Auckland this morning.

“Four people were brought to the Henderson Police Station for interview and have since been arrested and charged,” Hassan said.

“There are further arrests to be made, and I strongly encourage those people who have chosen to avoid our staff today to pick up the phone.”

Police have filed assault-related charges, including indecent assault, over the alleged actions against three victims.

• A 67-year-old man has been charged with indecent assault, two counts of assault under the Summary Offences Act and one count of assault under the Crimes Act.
• A 28-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of assault, under the Crimes and Summary Offences acts.
• A 19-year-old woman has been charged with assault under the Summary Offences Act.
• A 50-year-old woman has been charged with assault under the Summary Offences Act.

Police said further charges will be filed over the alleged actions against five further victims.

Those arrested had all been given bail to appear in the Waitākere District Court on Tuesday, March 18.

Hassan said the group’s actions created a “great deal of distress” for rainbow communities.

“This festival is important for our Rainbow communities, and they should be able to participate in events free of intimidation and interference.

“Those working on site and attending the venue were subjected to violence and intimidation.

“Any assault is unacceptable, but it is even more so when an adult is being charged for allegedly indecently assaulting a young person.”

He said investigation staff had worked through a detailed process of reviewing footage and speaking with witnesses.

“There is a place for peaceful and lawful protest in this country, but this event crossed the line, and this investigation makes it very clear that this will not be tolerated.”

Te Atatū MP Phil Twyford said he was “really pleased” West Auckland Police had made the arrests.

”Hate and violence is rejected by the people of West Auckland,” he told the Herald.

”It has no place in our communities, and it is great to see the Police responding so seriously to what happened.”

‘Only the beginning’: Protest organiser expects LGBT community to face charges

A Freedoms and Rights Coalition spokesperson stressed the Te Atatū Community Centre protest “was not a Destiny Church event”, nor a ManUp event.

“The protest was organised by The Freedoms and Rights Coalition team in West Auckland. It was attended by some individuals who are a part of Destiny Church, and also many individuals who are not a part of Destiny Church,” they said.

“Destiny Church will therefore not be providing any comment at this time.”

The Freedom and Rights Coalition was founded by Brian Tamaki.

The spokesperson said at this time they were unaware of all who had been charged.

“Please understand this is only the beginning of this process with the police, as the police have yet to interview the Freedoms and Rights Coalition team and view the evidence we are in possession of that clearly shows the aggression was initiated by the LGBT community from the point they chose to twice uppercut punch a minor in the face in our haka team, and then punch a mother who was observing.

“Some of our people had genuine tickets to attend the Drag Queen storytime, and when they attempted to enter, they had to push their way up the stairs past LGBT Activists blocking them. These individuals did not present themselves as council approved security or police who had any right to block entry.

“We are expecting the police in due course, will also charge individuals from the LGBT Community.”

Over 50 protesters storm building; Toddlers and children forced to hide

Police last month said they were investigating allegations of assault in relation to the Pride event after about 50 people entered the building and refused to leave.

About 30 toddlers, young children and adults had to be barricaded inside the library at Te Atatū Community Centre, RNZ reported.

A 16-year-old girl attending a sports event at the venue was among those assaulted during the protest, suffering a concussion in the process.

Sarah* told the Herald her daughters Brooklyn*, 20, and Christina*, 16, were attending a dodgeball tournament in the venue’s gymnasium when protesters blocked both entrances and interrupted the games with loudspeakers.

“They said [the demonstration] was to keep the kids safe, but they brought their kids there and their children were unsupervised and roaming wild.”

She said the protesters then started marching upstairs towards the library, despite being told they could not go up to a privately booked space, and forced their way through the workers.

Some youth from the dodgeball teams, including Brooklyn and Christina, joined efforts by librarians and Pride workers to stop the demonstrators from reaching the library.

Brian Tamaki says he green-lit library attack; Luxon says protest went ‘too far’

In a sermon the following morning, controversial Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki told his congregation he gave members the green light to storm the library.

In a livestream of the sermon, Tamaki said he instructed the church elder: “I want you to storm the library they’re in and shut it down.

“There might have been some pushing and shoving, but I would smack someone who was trying to pervert my child in a room.”

Tamaki told the Herald that Man Up was forced to step up and take peaceful action with the Government refusing to “address the excessive spending on borderline pornography and perversion targeting our innocent Kiwi kids”.

“Today, passionate parents and youth gathered to protest ... an R18+ adult entertainer who is being paid by ratepayers to perform for children,” Tamaki said last month.

“This is not okay. This is child abuse,” he claimed.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was important to respect people’s right to free speech and peaceful protest, but Destiny Church went “too far”.

He told media that Aotearoa is a great country that celebrates diversity, and that has made it a better place.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said Destiny Church’s actions were “totally unacceptable”.

“While I respect freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest, to enter a council library facility that is there for all our communities to use and intimidate council staff, volunteers and community members going about their business is completely out of line,” Brown said.

*Names have been changed to protect their identity

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.