Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says police have revoked his firearms licence.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the church leader announced on social media that police had decided he was no longer a “fit and proper person”.<\/p>\n
He said police issued a notice revoking his firearms licence on Friday.<\/p>\n
“I am now prohibited not only from possessing my own firearms, but from possessing or using a firearm even under the supervision of a licensed firearms holder.”<\/p>\n
Acting Executive Director of Firearms Safety Authority Bruce Bird said police were unable to comment on an individual case or licensing decisions.<\/p>\n
“However, speaking generally, decisions about suspending or revoking a firearms licence are based on a legal standard of whether a person is ‘fit and proper’ to possess a firearm.”<\/p>\n
Bird said fit and proper decisions were guided by circumstances outlined in section 24A of the Arms Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tamaki said he would be seeking a review of the decision.<\/p>\n “I now have 28 days to apply for a review … you can be certain that I will,” he wrote on social media.<\/p>\n Tamaki’s comments about India<\/p>\n On Saturday, Tamaki claimed his licence had been revoked in response to statements he had made concerning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<\/p>\n “I was speaking passionately. I was protesting. I was challenging what I believed needed to be challenged,” he said.<\/p>\n “This follows the temporary suspension issued to me on 30 June and the subsequent submissions made by my lawyer opposing that suspension.”<\/p>\n In June, police confirmed they had served a temporary firearms licence suspension notice at an Auckland property. Authorities declined to comment on the specifics.<\/p>\n At the time of the suspension, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said he was sure the police had acted within the law<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I got zero time for Brian Tamaki,” he said. “If he’s got any complaints, he should take them through the proper legal channels and possibly stop being a dickhead.”<\/p>\n