Peter Dunne says Destiny Church should pay tax

Source: Facebook: Destiny Church. Brian Tamaki of Destiny Church has delivered a rambling sermon where he lays the blame for natural disasters on NZ's high murder rate and acceptance of gay marriage.

Peter Dunne has echoed calls from the public to strip Destiny Church of its tax-exempt status after its controversial leader Bishop Brian Tamaki blamed the Kaikoura earthquake on gays, sinners and murders.

On Thursday Dunne tweeted "I do not favour taxing genuine churches & real charities, but as Destiny is obviously neither it should pay taxes like any other business".

I do not favour taxing genuine churches & real charities, but as Destiny is obviously neither it should pay taxes like every other business

— Peter Dunne (@honpeterdunne) November 17, 2016

As Internal Affairs Minister, the United Future leader oversees the registration of charities.

But a spokesman for Dunne's office said removing the church's tax-exemption status wasn't within his power.

To qualify for tax-exemption an organisation must meet "rigorous" criteria, such as proving it had a "social community objective, not to enhance the benefit of an individual", the spokesman said.

He told the Herald deregistering a charity was a lengthy process and if the petition went before Parliament a select committee would make a recommendation before referring the issue to Charities Services.

The Charities Services would then conduct a review determine whether the organisation fulfilled the criteria, the spokesman said.