Tamaki bailed again after attending Covid protest
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has been given one final chance and released on bail after appearing at a third public rally against Covid-19 vaccine mandates.
It comes after an earlier court appearance where a judge gave him a warning he would be remanded in custody if he attended another protest.
Tamaki went on to speak at a ‘‘National Compassion Day’’ rally in Auckland Domain on Saturday.
‘‘You have been skating on very thin ice,’’ Judge Steve Bonnar, QC, told Tamaki at Auckland District Court yesterday.
‘‘I have seriously considered whether you should have been remanded in custody.’’
Tamaki is charged with breaching a Covid-19 order and breaching his bail conditions.
He is also facing charges relating to his earlier demonstrations in the Domain.
Tamaki’s lawyer Ron Mansfield, QC, said his client denied the fresh charges, and applied for bail.
Bail was opposed by Brian Dickey, acting on behalf of the police.
The lawyers’ submissions are automatically suppressed under the Bail Act.
Judge Bonnar released Tamaki on bail, adding a new condition for him not to support or speak at any gatherings and not to enter the Auckland Domain.
Tamaki’s previous bail conditions include not attending or organising any protest, and not accessing the internet for the purpose of organising or inciting noncompliance with Covid-19 level requirements.
Judge Bonnar gave Tamaki yet another warning he would be remanded in custody if he breached his bail conditions again.
Brian’s wife, Hannah Tamaki, was also charged with two counts of failing to comply with a Covid-19 order and will appear in court at a later date.
The Freedom & Rights Coalition, which was behind the Domain rally, earlier encouraged supporters to take ‘‘pots and pans’’ with them and gather outside Auckland Central Police Station, where the couple was summonsed yesterday morning.
Pots and pans were banged and whistles blown as the Tamakis walked up to the police station.