• Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki’s “Make New Zealand Great Again” protest against the flying of flags other than New Zealand’s began south of Auckland this morning. 
• Police are warning the convoy on State Highway 1 north to Auckland Domain could disrupt traffic. 
• Tamaki is currently on trial for violating Covid-19 restrictions, and could go to jail if found guilty. 

Brian Tamaki claims there is a lack of respect for the New Zealand flag, after leading a convoy that blocked State Highway 1 and disrupted motorists.

Supporters ended the convoy at Auckland Domain, where the Destiny Church leader addressed the crowd.

Tamaki told the crowd New Zealand was “the best country you can live in in the world”.

“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.”

People took New Zealand for granted, Tamaki said.

”They make money out of it. They try and extract its resources, and use it. But they don’t realise this land was given to us … [and] it’s been so abused by politicians.”

Christianity should be “our state religion”, Tamaki said.

”I would like for the Government to declare that Christianity is our state religion. We have to define who we are and what we believe. (edited)

“And the day they do that, they’re going to see our country begin to rise again.”

His speech ended was another haka by the group.

Brian Tamaki addresses his supporters at Auckland Domain. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Speaking before Tamaki, City Impact Church co-founder Peter Mortlock told the crowd New Zealand had “gone down the wrong path”.

”The 50s, 60s, 70s were great years in New Zealand … where you didn’t have to lock your house, lock your car, your kids were free to play in the streets.

”There was no crime to speak of, no murders to speak of. Maybe one a year. Now there’s one a day.”

Mortlock also criticised a recent documentary on a transgender man having a baby: ”There’s something very wrong with society when that can be funded by New Zealand on Air.”

Speaking before Tamaki, City Impact Church co-founder Peter Mortlock told the crowd New Zealand had “gone down the wrong path”.

”The 50s, 60s, 70s were great years in New Zealand … where you didn’t have to lock your house, lock your car, your kids were free to play in the streets.

”There was no crime to speak of, no murders to speak of. Maybe one a year. Now there’s one a day.”

Mortlock also criticised a recent documentary on a transgender man having a baby: ”There’s something very wrong with society when that can be funded by New Zealand on Air.”

A convoy organised by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki to protest the flying of flags other than New Zealand's official ensign stopped traffic on State Highway 1 near Bombay to perform a haka.

Earlier, traffic was forced to stop near the Bombay Hills just after 11am as dozens of men performed a haka.

Police earlier told the Herald they were watching for potential traffic disruption as the protest against the use of flags other than New Zealand’s official ensign - organised by the Destiny Church leader - made its way north from the Waikato settlement of Mercer to Auckland Domain this morning.

“Motorists travelling north on the Southern Motorway (SH1) between Mercer and Auckland [this] morning may have their travel plans disrupted as there might be delays,” police said in a statement.

“Police will be working with NZTA and Auckland Transport throughout the morning in case road closures and diversions are required.”

Dozens of people perform a haka after stopping traffic on State Highway 1 near Bombay this morning. Photo / Screengrab via The Freedom and Rights Coalition Facebook page livestream 

Just after 11am the motorcycle-led convoy, which is occupying all northbound lanes, slowed just before an overbridge near Bombay.

Dozens then poured on to the highway and performed a haka.

Some were wearing “Make New Zealand Great Again” T-shirts - the name given by Tamaki to the protest - and others wore T-shirts with the slogan “Real Men”.

The haka was led by several men in traditional Māori dress.

The convoy began moving north again about 10 minutes later, and many of those involved had arrived at the Domain by noon.

Protesters in a convoy organised by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki, and which is calling for only the New Zealand flag to be flown in this country, pictured near the Market Rd overbridge on State Highway 1 in Auckland this morning. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

NZTA tweeted at 11.20am that slow-moving traffic due to the protest was causing delays for people travelling north on the Southern Motorway. 

“Allow extra time for journeys citybound along the Southern Mwy this morning.” 

A flag-waving protester pictured in the "Make New Zealand Great Again" convoy from Mercer to Auckland this morning. The convoy was organised by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki and calls for only the New Zealand flag to be flown in this country. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

The worst northbound traffic was from the Princes St on-ramp in Ōtāhuhu to downtown Auckland, with northbound journeys taking about 40 minutes as of 12.30pm, according to Google Maps. 

Police have been contacted for comment on the protesters’ earlier move to stop traffic. 

The highway was blocked for about 10 minutes by the protesters, who are on their way to Auckland Domain. Photo / Screengrab via The Freedom and Rights Coalition Facebook page livestream 

The convoy began at 10.30am and was expected to arrive at the Domain at noon. It usually takes 40 minutes to make the 56km journey from Mercer to central Auckland in off-peak traffic, according to Google Maps. 

The rally is protesting the flying of flags other than the New Zealand flag, Tamaki wrote on social media. 

“[It] will be a Patriotic Parade down Auckland’s Motorway, New Zealand Flags proudly flying … 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.” 

However, people waving Palestine and Tino Rangatiratanga flags were on the Market Rd overbridge as the convoy passed underneath this morning, with some people leaning out of their car windows to pull the fingers at those above. 

Protesters in a convoy organised by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki gesture at people waving Palestine and Tino Rangatiratanga flags from the Market Rd overbridge in Auckland this morning. The Tamaki-organised "Make New Zealand Great Again" convoy from Mercer to Auckland Domain is calling for only the New Zealand flag to be flown in this country. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

A flag-waving protester leans from a van as the Brian Tamaki-organised "Make New Zealand Great Again" convoy nears central Auckland this morning. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki and his supporters are on their way to Auckland Domain to protest about the use of flags other than New Zealand's official ensign. Photo / Screengrab via The Freedom and Rights Coalition Facebook page livestream 

The protest comes three days after Auckland roads were clogged during the late-morning peak when thousands marched across Auckland’s Harbour Bridge in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill. 

More than 10,000 people were reported to have joined the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi, many waving the Māori Tino Rangatiratanga flag, and the United Tribes/He Whakaputanga flag. 

Tamaki wrote that “particularly the Māori sovereignty flags, Palestine sovereignty flags and Khalistan (Indian Sikh) sovereignty flags” should be banned. 

Destiny Church told its followers on social media not to forget their “merch tees”, such as “Make NZ Great Again”, “I AM WOMAN”, “God Defend NZ” and “Jesus Is King”. 

Tamaki and his supporters have a long history of public protest, including against the Civil Union Act 20 years ago and more recently in relation to Covid-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates. 

Destiny Church founders Brian and Hannah Tamaki in court for their trial over breaching Covid-19 public health laws. Photo / Mike Scott 

Tamaki, wife Hannah and two other Destiny Church members are currently on trial, accused of violating Covid-19 restrictions at lockdown protests at the Auckland Domain three years ago. 

Hei faces up to six months in prison and thousands of dollars in fines if found guilty of four counts of intentionally failing to comply with the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act. 

Tamaki was also accused on three occasions of violating his bail conditions by continuing to attend the rallies after his initial arrest. However, the alleged bail breaches did not result in new criminal charges and are not part of the trial. 

This week, Tamaki claimed the public witnessed “division and hatred” at the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi and Treaty Principles Bill debate. 

Parliament descended into chaos during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill this week when one of Te Pāti Māori’s new members was ejected from the House. 

Hīkoi participants march in Hamilton on day four of a journey to Wellington to protest various issues, including the Act Party’s Treaty Principles Bill. Photo / Mike Scott 

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Naila Hassan said there were no significant issues at the hīkoi, part of the journey of thousands around the North Island to Wellington this week. 

“What we saw was a large crowd of people demonstrating peacefully as part of a permitted event. We’re pleased with the peaceful actions of hīkoi participants and how well motorists responded to periods of significant disruption.”