Brian Tamaki summoned to court for inciting racial disharmony around Modi's visit

New Zealand 1 min read
Brian Tamaki summoned to court for inciting racial disharmony around Modi's visit

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki.

The Destiny Church leader says the charges relate to comments made while criticising Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Ravi Bajpai October 15, 2026

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has been summonsed to appear in court on three charges of allegedly inciting racial disharmony.

Tamaki live-streamed police serving the summons at his home on Thursday morning.

Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Nelson said the charges were laid under the Human Rights Act and that, because of the nature of the alleged offending, police required the Attorney-General’s consent to prosecute.

Tamaki is facing three charges relating to alleged offending in June and has been ordered to appear in court on October 19. Tamaki said the alleged offending dates are between June 15 and June 21, 2026. He has been ordered to appear in court on October 19.

In a statement released after being served, Tamaki said he believed the charges related to comments he made while publicly attacking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over human rights and the treatment of Christians in India.

He denies inciting hostility against Indians and argues his comments were directed at Modi, religious beliefs and alleged human-rights abuses rather than people because of their race or ethnicity.

Tamaki has described the prosecution as politically motivated and said he intends to fight the charges.