Election 2023: Brian Tamaki and Freedoms NZ to disrupt National Party's campaign launch

Freedoms NZ co-leader Brian Tamaki has pledged to disrupt the National Party's campaign launch in south Auckland on Sunday afternoon. 

Tamaki and his wife Hannah are already at the venue for National's launch, which is expected to start at 2pm.

The Destiny Church leader was filmed shouting about transgender people and Jesus, flanked by about 100 protesters.

Brain Tamaki speaking to supporters in south Auckland on Sunday.
Brain Tamaki speaking to supporters in south Auckland on Sunday. Photo credit: Newshub

Freedoms NZ released a press release on Sunday morning saying Tamaki will lead "hundreds of fathers and their families" to National's campaign launch at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.

Tamaki will "confront" National Party leader Christopher Luxon and other party MPs about the "state of this nation". 

He has also called on Luxon and other National MPs like Simon O'Connor, Simeon Brown and Judith Collins to be more upfront about their Christian values.

"Will the real Christopher Luxon please stand up?" Tamaki said in a statement. 

"Today, we call on Mr. Luxon to be unequivocal about his beliefs and the leadership style he will bring to our nation."

Labour leader Chris Hipkins told media on Sunday Freedoms NZ is a "nuisance for every New Zealander". 

"Elections fundamentally should be about the contest of ideas, not about shouting each other down. My message to the Freedoms people is if you're so confident in your ideas, go out and share them with people. Don't try shouting other people down," Hipkins said when asked about his thoughts on the Freedom Party trying to disrupt National's campaign launch. 

"New Zealanders want to hear what parties have got to offer... being shouted down by Freedom people basically just means they're not going to have that opportunity.

"Brian Tamaki's been trying to cause disruption for years and he hasn't succeeded and I don't think he'll succeed this time."

This latest disruption comes a day after Freedoms NZ supporters disrupted the Labour Party campaign launch. 

About 50 Freedoms NZ protesters gathered at Aotea Square / Te Papa-tū-wātea o Aotea, with hecklers disrupting speeches from Hipkins and former Prime Minister Helen Clark. 

Police later told Newshub one person was arrested at the protest but no charges had been laid. 

Earlier this week, a Freedoms NZ candidate hijacked Luxon's press conference when he leaned over the fence and interrupted the National Party leader. 

Two weeks ago, Hipkins was mobbed at the Ōtara flea markets by Freedoms NZ protesters, while on a walkabout with his MPs.

Tamaki has told Newshub they're planning on being "disruptive".

"[We're] interrupting a whole boring, lacklustre campaign."