Creator of library Drag Queen Rainbow Readings is a former member of Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church

Sunita Torrance as Coco reading to children during the Rainbow Storytime NZ in Hastings May 2022. Photo / Wendy Schollum

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The creator of the Rainbow Storytime readings that Brian Tamaki has shut down in Rotorua is a former Destiny Church member who is angered at the abuse she and drag queen Daniel Lockett, who she reads with, have received from Tamaki’s team.

Sunita Torrance - stage name Coco - is the drag queen performer behind the Rainbow Storytime readings. Torrance and Lockett - Erika Flash - dress in drag and read children books such as Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae.

Torrance said since news of Tamaki’s protest action had been made public, she and Lockett had been abused and threatened.

A Rainbow reading was planned for today at the Rotorua Library, but cancelled late yesterday due to safety concerns.

The Herald revealed last week that Tamaki and his team had planned to protest at the Rotorua event. Tamaki said similar action and pressure would be put on the Gisborne and Hastings councils to can their readings next week.

In and out of costume - Daniel Lockett and Sunita Torrance.

Tamaki told the Herald he makes no apology for forcing the Rotorua cancellation.

“I am so proud of our teams and the people of Rotorua who stood up to local council and Drag Queens in Libraries Storytelling our Children,” Tamaki said.

“As a father and great-grandfather, I will go to any lengths to protect my children.

“Many good people have been trying to get these shut down for a while now, but I’m happy to lend my assistance to this cause, to finally make that possible. They are inappropriate as they sexualise our Kiwi children.

“I now have set my sights on events planned at the Gisborne Library and Hastings Library next week.”

Torrance said she was brought up as part of the Destiny Church whānau.

“About 20 years ago me and my mum attended Destiny Church,” Torrance said.

“I grew up in the church, so I have that upbringing and I would never subscribe to the idea of telling people they shouldn’t exist - where does that come from?”

Daniel Lockett as Erika Flash and Sunita Torrance as Coco at a Rainbow Storytime NZ childrens' reading event in Hastings May 2022. Photo / Wendy Schollum

Torrance said the Rainbow Storytime readings were about children reading and she completely understood why Rotorua cancelled.

“This is about the children and we do this for the kids and it’s child-friendly,” she said.

“We had 80 people registered for Rotorua, they are the ones who will miss out.

“I created this curriculum on my own and it’s about children reading and having fun.”

The online abuse has come quick and hard, Torrance said, and contained inaccuracies.

Lockett’s character, based on Erika in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, has been twisted to suit others’ agendas.

“We have been targeted online and the abuse has been terrible.

“They are publishing our names and our photos and crossing the line but being called a paedophile is about the lowest thing you can do to anyone.

“Daniel is about to move to London to work and who would want that type of accusation hanging around?

“These people talk about freedom of speech but sounds like just their type of speech is acceptable.”

From the pulpit: Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki.

Joseph Los’e is an award-winning journalist and joined NZME in 2022 as kaupapa Māori editor. Los’e was chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before joining NZME worked for urban Māori authority Whānau Waipareira.