Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says a group planning to protest one of his Christchurch talks is simply "incredibly jealous about my life" and that giving his church thousands of dollars in donations "should be normal".
The church was forced to change the location of their event , which was planned to take place at the Haeata Community Campus in Aranui last night, after activists threatened to invade the event with a "big gay party".
Brian Tamaki is given a fair chance to respond to the request over his 'sin' causing earthquakes comments.
The protests were centred around comments made by Mr Tamaki in 2016 which implied "certain human sin", including homosexuality, was to blame for the Christchurch earthquakes.
The sermon went ahead last night at an undisclosed location, with Mr Tamaki saying he struggled to understand why the media and protesters targeted him, saying they were likely envious of his life.
"They [the protest group] are incredibly jealous about my life - they wanted to party here not because of you, you're innocent, it's me," Mr Tamaki told attendees.
"But why me? Because that spirit knows that I'm going to tell you how to have the same things and be the same person [as me].
"News agents ... are trying to get information about where we are meeting ... since when is TV1, TV3, ZB talkback show and all of the media - big media - so interested in a little Destiny Church meeting?
"You've gotta ask some questions ... surely there must be better news things than picking on this half-caste Maori about what kind of car he drives... and [saying] I'm creaming you fullas for money.
"If they say I'm so rich and you're so poor - how did the two things happen?"
Members of the church are reportedly required to pay 10 per cent of their income to the church as a tithe, as well as being encouraged to give more in special giving drives.
Mr Tamaki went on to tell those in attendance that them giving his church "thousands of dollars" in donations "should be normal", as that would indicate they have plenty to give.
Mr Tamaki's wife Hannah also recently purchased a 2017 twin-turbo 577hp V8 AMG Mercedes , which sells for about $207,900.
Charities Services served notices to Destiny Church on October 3, saying Internal Affairs is intending to strip two of their largest charitable entities of their tax-free status for repeated late filing of annual financial returns.
1 NEWS NOW reporter Luke Appleby said in July 2017 that the church tells him they’re working to file as soon as possible.
The two entities concerned are among the main elements of church's business operations and have assets and income in the millions of dollars, according to annual returns.
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