Kia ora
When I posted the last update a few months ago, I did not expect it to progress any further. I thought it would reach the Parliament committee that handles petitions and die there. However, thanks to Hon. Phil Twyford (Te Atatu) and Hon. Duncan Webb (Port Hills), and the Parliament Select Committee for advising me, I can now say that it was reviewed by the Minister (Hon. Louise Upston) responsible for the charity sector.
Their decision has been released (more on that very shortly). In short it was largely a predictable response, but with a couple of notable points:
The Minister mentioned that - as I recognised - that Destiny Church is not a legal entity under the Charities Act 2005, but acknowledged that there are a number of matters highlighted by this petition. She addresses those. She also notes that there is meant to be a separation between the State and the charities sector, which limits what the Government can do.
But before I give you the link, I just want to say two very important things:
1) First and foremost, one more time, THANK YOU to EVERYONE who supported this - to everyone who signed it (16,156 of you); donated money to enable more visibility (512 of you donated NZD 5,735, which purchased nearly 75,000 views); shared it; mentioned it and got in contact with me. It is because of this support we got as far as we did. This was not just a ME effort. It was a combined effort by all of us to raise a credible petition and in the circumstances, it came as close to success as I think was realistically possible.
2) Because I now know that New Zealand Parliament oriented petitions are only considered by Parliament through their own petition system, should this revive at any point, or should I take action for any other cause targetting the New Zealand Government, it will not be on Change.
This will now be closed on the grounds that it has reached the Minister. Although not a complete victory, I am declaring victory anyway because this has done as well as it could have in the circumstances.
KA PAI everyone!
And HAERE RA.