‘I was behind them’

• Author: Sam Hurley
• Published date: 12 July 2022
• Publication title: New Zealand Herald, The (Auckland, New Zealand)

A speech for The Freedoms & Rights Coalition potentially sees the self-appointed bishop appear to take the credit for the rallies, which could amount to breaches of his bail conditions if proven in court

“One-hundred-and-sixteen protests later, yes I admit, I was behind them all,” Tamaki said in a lengthy address to a crowd, which was recorded and posted on social media yesterday.

“I organised them, I dated them. Take that,” he added to cheers from those at the event.

Tamaki faces charges of intentionally failing to comply with the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act and breaching his bail conditions.

His wife, Hannah Tamaki, was also charged with failing to comply with a COVID-19 order.

They deny the charges, which Tamaki repeated during his speech that also spanned other political topics.

Auckland’s Crown solicitor Brian Dickey, who has appeared on behalf of police and opposed some of Tamaki’s bids for bail in court, did not comment — bar one word — when approached by the Herald about the speech.

“Interesting,” Dickey said.

Police and Tamaki did not reply to the Herald’s questions and requests for comment.

Tamaki’s lawyer, Ron Mansfield QC, also did not respond at the time of going to print.

It was unclear in Tamaki’s speech if he was also claiming to be behind the protest which occupied Parliament’s grounds and surrounding streets for three weeks during February and March. The Freedoms & Rights Coalition was reported to have had a presence at Parliament during the protest.

Legal expert Bill Hodge, a former University of Auckland law professor, told the Herald it was possible Tamaki may elect to “get in the box” and give evidence in his own defence during a future trial.

If this eventuated, Tamaki may want to take responsibility and wish to be viewed as a hero fighting for the rights of all New Zealanders as a civil liberties protector, Hodge said.

Tamaki would, however, then open himself up to cross-examination from prosecutors.

In his speech, Tamaki alluded to his actions being a Bill of Rights battle on behalf of every Kiwi.

Because Tamaki isn’t obliged to give evidence at a trial, the Crown could seek to introduce the video as evidence at trial through a witness, Hodge said.

“I would do my best to get the person who made the recording,” Hodge explained from a prosecutor’s position. “Someone who electronically made the recording and can testify to having made it.”

He suspected police and the Crown would have such discussions.

Hodge said the case was...