Wednesday, 29 November 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Masked activists target NZ Scientology headquarters

By Kristina Koveshnikova
16 Apr, 2008 05:00 PM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Scientologists have tried to get the Tom Cruise footage pulled from YouTube.

Scientologists have tried to get the Tom Cruise footage pulled from YouTube.

KEY POINTS:

Masked protesters have begun a campaign against the Auckland headquarters of Scientology New Zealand, as part of a worldwide movement against the church.

The protest, called Operation Reconnect, was organised by a global group calling itself Anonymous, which began its internet-based "War on Scientology" in January. It aimed to bring together families it says have been torn apart by the church.

The latest protest on Saturday was the third of its kind, held across the road from the church's Panmure headquarters.

Scientology NZ spokesman Mike Ferris said the protesters were "nuts" and he had received threats via phone and email. He said police had been alerted to the protesters' plans and that the protests were full of "religious intolerance and hate speech".

Participants said it was a peaceful protest and was not an attack on a religion.

"All we are trying to do is to create awareness as many people don't know exactly what Scientology is and what it teaches," said one of the 20 protesters at the latest demonstration. "We don't want to harm anybody."

The protester declined to be named.

Auckland City police communications manager Noreen Hegarty said Anonymous had the right to protest as long as it was peaceful.

Anonymous began its campaign when the Church of Scientology tried to remove a film featuring Tom Cruise, intended for Scientology members, from the YouTube website. The video was viewed by millions of people worldwide.

The local branch of the church has bought a $10 million building to house its Auckland headquarters.

Mr Ferris said the new church building at 136 Grafton Rd, which was once occupied by Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, was bought using donations from church members around the world.

The new building would house about 100 staff, he said, and include a symbolic office for Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

"We are putting our roots [down], we are saying this is where we are going to be," Mr Ferris said.

He estimated there were 5000-6000 Scientologists in New Zealand, although 357 people called themselves Scientologists in the 2006 Census.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

Watch: Skipper Infamous Richard's dramatic sea rescue

28 Nov 10:46 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Focus: Chris Hipkins' first press conference as Opposition leader

New ZealandUpdated

Man who beat partner told court he liked 'broken girls'

28 Nov 10:29 PM
New Zealand

Waikato farmers swap tractors for surfboards

28 Nov 10:11 PM

Top toys of 2023 for kids & ‘kidults’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Watch: Skipper Infamous Richard's dramatic sea rescue

Watch: Skipper Infamous Richard's dramatic sea rescue

28 Nov 10:46 PM

Life is a Cabaret for 'Infamous Richard' after adventurer’s latest brush with fate.

Focus: Chris Hipkins' first press conference as Opposition leader

Focus: Chris Hipkins' first press conference as Opposition leader

Man who beat partner told court he liked 'broken girls'

Man who beat partner told court he liked 'broken girls'

28 Nov 10:29 PM
Waikato farmers swap tractors for surfboards

Waikato farmers swap tractors for surfboards

28 Nov 10:11 PM
Toy trends for Christmas
sponsored

Toy trends for Christmas

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP