Brian Tamaki responds to criticism after leaving Auckland on eve of lockdown

Published: March 4, 2021, 4:07 a.m.

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says he was well within his rights to leave Auckland on Saturday night following the official announcement the city would enter level 3 lockdown at 6am the following morning. Tamaki and his wife Hannah went to Rotorua late on Saturday night and told a church service on Sunday morning they had done so in order to avoid having to stay at home all week. At least 9,000 other people also left Auckland early, despite the Prime Minister on Saturday asking Aucklanders to start following level 3 restrictions immediately, for safety.  Tamaki told Checkpoint that legally he did nothing wrong.