A petition hosted on the change.org platform has garnered 1587 signatures as of April 1st, calling for the revocation of Destiny Church's Charitable Status. 

Organisers of the petition allege that the church's leader, Brian Tamaki, has been openly inciting hate crimes against transgender women and the LGBTQIA community through his sermons and public statements.

They assert that such behaviour is inconsistent with the requirements for maintaining Charitable Status and is harmful propaganda that significantly impacts already marginalised groups and society at large.

According to the Charities Act 2005, charitable organisations are expected to meet specific standards, including benefiting the community or public as a whole.

The petition organisers argue that spreading hatred towards any group does not align with these standards and are calling for action to be taken against what they perceive as a misuse of power and privilege granted by Charitable Status.

In New Zealand, community organisations can benefit from tax exemptions depending on their nature and scope.

These exemptions, if granted by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), include non-business income exemptions derived by an organisation established exclusively for charitable purposes or by the trustees of a charitable trust.

Additionally, exemptions for income from businesses carried on in New Zealand by an organisation established exclusively for charitable purposes or by the trustees of a charitable trust are also available.

Furthermore, charitable organisations are exempt from paying Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) on any benefits provided to employees while they are carrying out the organisation’s charitable activities.

The petition has sparked a debate about the responsibilities of charitable organisations and the impact of their activities on the wider community.