IR-01-25-38150
17 November 2025
K
[FYI request #32591 email]
Dear K
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 17 October 2025. You
asked for information regarding Mr Brian Tamaki.
My response to each part of your request can be found below.
1.
The nature of any and all criminal charges filed against Brian Raymond Tamaki (a
public figure born 2 February 1958) between 1st January 2000 and 17 October 2025,
all arrest records as wel as search warrants applied for and executed against the
aforementioned.
Your request for information regarding al criminal charges filed against Mr Brian Tamaki
between 1 January 2000 and 17 October 2025, including arrest records, is withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
Police acknowledge that some information has been publicly reported by media outlets
and is available online.
There were no search warrants applied for or executed in relation to Mr Tamaki.
Accordingly, this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the
documents al eged to contain the requested information do not exist.
2.
The outcome of all charges pertaining to the aforementioned.
Please refer to my response to Question 1.
3.
Copies of all email correspondence, inter office memos, communications with Police
prosecutors, SIS, and other government agencies, text messages, handwritten notes
and charging documents relating to Brian Raymond Tamaki (a public figure born 2
February 1958) and Destiny Church pertaining to the aforementioned.
Your request for copies of all emails correspondence, inter office memos,
communications with police prosecutors, relating to Mr Brian Tamaki, is withheld under
the following sections of the OIA:
−
9(2)(a) the withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of
natural persons.
−
9(2)(h) the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal
professional privilege
−
6(c) the making available of that information would be likely to prejudice the
maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation, and detection of
offences, and the right to a fair trial.
There is no correspondence between Police and the New Zealand Security Intelligence
Service (NZSIS) or any other government agencies relating to Mr Brian Tamaki.
Accordingly, this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the
documents al eged to contain the requested information do not exist.
Similarly, your request for the same information in relation to Destiny Church as an entity
is refused in ful under section 18(e) of the OIA.
4.
Any and al correspondence, with Police prosecutors, SIS, and other government
agencies, text messages, hand written notes and charging documents pertaining to
The Freedoms and Rights Coalition.
This part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA.
5.
Any and al correspondence, with Police prosecutors, SIS, and other government
agencies, text messages, handwritten notes and charging documents pertaining to
Covid-19 related marches, protests, and public disruptions caused by the same.
Please refer to my response to Question 4.
6.
Any valid reason as to why Brian Raymond Tamaki has not yet been charged as a
terrorist under Section 6a of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002
An agency is not obliged to form an opinion or create information to answer an OIA
request. There is a difference between:
•
questions which can be answered by providing information already known to and
held by the agency (official information); and
•
questions which require the agency to form an opinion or provide an explanation
and so create new information to answer the request (not official information).
The information requested is not held, and Police has no reason to believe it is held by
another agency. This part of your request is therefore refused pursuant to section 18(g)(i)
of the OIA.
7.
Why New Zealand Police knowingly allow Brian Raymond Tamaki to continual y
engage in il egal activity, unlawful actions and terrorist activity without preventing him
from doing so, filing charges, arresting him or otherwise prevent him from engaging
is such activities.
Please refer to my response to Question 6.
8.
Information on any ongoing public matters within the New Zealand Police concerning
Brian Raymond Tamaki or Destiny Church.
Please refer to my response to Question 6.
Police considers the interests requiring protection by withholding the information are not
outweighed by any public interest in release of the information.
Please note that as part of its commitment to openness and transparency, Police
proactively releases some information and documents that may be of interest to the
public. An anonymised version of this response may be publicly released on the New
Zealand Police website.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Detective Senior Sergeant Gregory Brand
Auckland City Police Criminal Investigation Branch
New Zealand Police
