Destiny buys $2m hideaway

Bishop Tamaki and wife poised to build on rural land with spectacular views.

The New Zealand Herald/November 29, 2015

By Simon Plumb

Destiny Church appears to be spreading its gospel to the countryside, after a trust owned by church members shelled out almost $2 million on a rural hideaway.

The 67ha plot in Clevedon, southeast of Auckland, features a four-bedroom home, barn, woolshed and dressage area. The real estate listing said it could be divided into four separate titles and "the new building sites will have the most spectacular views".

It appears church leaders Bishop Brian Tamaki and his wife Hannah may be building on the property.

Hannah Tamaki has been posting to social media about the spot, saying she had taken her parents "to have a look where we plan to build".

This month, a posting on Destiny Church School's Facebook page featured pictures of students planting trees on the "church property in Clevedon".

"It was such a great opportunity for us to apply our learning about sustainable forest and environments and for the students to work alongside Bishop Tamaki on a project," the post read.

"We are looking forward to going back in years to come to enjoy the orchard and the views."

Property records show Moreh Ltd took ownership of the property on March 29 in a deal worth $1.95 million. Its directors and shareholders include Destiny members.

Moreh's directors are Trevor and Esther Robb. When the Herald on Sunday visited the property, Trevor Robb confirmed he is a Destiny member.

But he clammed up when asked what Tamaki might have to do with the site, saying, "Brian will kick my bum if I tell you things."

The Robbs are also shareholders in Moreh with high-ranking Destiny couple Dave and Anne Kahu.

Dave Kahu would not talk about the property. The Tamakis rejected approaches for comment via church spokeswoman Anne Williamson.

The Tamakis sold their five-bedroom, five-bathroom Maraetai Beach mansion in January for $1.5 million before renting a sprawling six-bedroom retreat across the road owned by National Party MP and former Minister Judith Collins.

The most recent annual return of Destiny Church's primary charity, Te Hahi o Nga Matamua Holdings, declared that in March this year it had assets of $8.9 million - $8.5 million in land, buildings, investments and other long-term assets and $443,006 in cash and short-term assets.

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