Destiny Church protests: Niu FM radio personality Bailey Palala, young primary school worker among demonstrators
Michel Mulipola, an illustrator and popular social media personality under the username @bloodysamoan, posted a series of videos showing Palala’s involvement in the protests.
“He is an accomplice in the assault and siege of the Te Atatū library, which has resulted in a 16-year-old with a concussion and a 20-year-old with bruised ribs,” Mulipola said.
He claimed every person that “entered that building against the wishes of the kaitiaki of Te Atatū library … is an accomplice in the harm and the violence in the assault that occurred”.
Mulipola claimed a friend contacted the chief executive of Pacific Media Network, which owns Niu FM, and that he “would be talking to” Palala.
Palala is a group leader at the Destiny Church-affiliated group The Radical Youth, with its social media page posting photos of him baptising teenagers on Friday.
Palala spent five years at Mai FM before announcing his move to Niu FM in November. He did not appear on Niu FM’s The Morning Shack today, where he works as a producer.
His Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts have also been deactivated.
Pacific Media Network chief executive Don Mann told the Herald he was aware of public comments — including those from prominent members of the Pacific community — about the attendance of one of the station’s staff members at the protest.
“There is an internal process currently in place. I can’t comment further given the personal contractual nature of the matter in hand between the network and the employee,” Mann said.
Former MP Tau Henare told the Herald if the reports were true, Palala “should lose his job”.
Niu FM is a Government-funded radio station and comment has been sought from Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith.
Young man lauded by Tamaki for involvement works at primary school
Meanwhile, it can be revealed a young man lauded by Brian Tamaki for his involvement in the protest works at a primary school.
Caleb Leiasamaivao, a support staffer at Jean Batten School in Māngere East working as a sports coach, was seen yelling “stop sexualising our kids” during the protest.
Destiny Church leader Tamaki praised Leiasamaivao during yesterday’s live-streamed sermon, getting him to stand up so the crowd could applaud him for his actions.
Leiasamaivao is the son of Tala Leiasamaivao, the ‘elder’ of Iwi Tapu West — Destiny Church’s West Auckland social arm.
In his sermon, Tamaki said: “That’s your son, Tala,” pointing to video footage of the incident. “There’s Caleb, and Mr Campbell, stand up, you two.”
Jean Batten School principal Nardi Leonard declined to comment to the Herald.
When approached for comment, a spokeswoman for Destiny Church said: “It is highly inappropriate, and frankly disgraceful, that [media] is targeting a 19-year-old man who has never engaged in alcohol, drugs, smoking, swearing or premarital sex”.
‘Crossed a line’: Police investigate allegations of assault
Inspector Simon Walker, acting Waitematā police district commander, said they were investigating allegations of assault during the Te Atatū incident.
“Police strongly condemn the actions of [the] group. The group’s actions caused considerable distress and concern among tamariki, library staff and visitors.
“This protest crossed a line. Freedom of speech and the right to protest are fundamental principles of a free and democratic society under the rule of law, but nobody, especially children, should ever be made to feel unsafe.”
Auckland Council community director, Rachel Kelleher, said it was working closely with police as part of the investigation into Saturday’s incident.
“While it is ongoing, we have advised kaimahi if they were assaulted, that they can contact the police directly, and encourage members of the public to do the same.”
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.