Hannah's Beehive Dream - It's My Destiny!

The church leader’s calling on the faithful

- Aroha Awarau

New political party leader Hannah Tamaki has a tough year ahead of her. Not only will she be juggling running a busy household with four generations under one roof while co-leading Destiny Church with her husband Brian, but she now has the added pressure of heading a political campaign for next year’s general election.

Hannah, 58, knows politics isn’t for the faint-hearted. But she says her strong bond with Brian, who often dominates media with his controversial views, will help her weather the storm.

“We first met when we were teenagers,” she tells. “He was very shy and I was the real outspoken one. It was opposites attract. We make a good team and that’s what will see me through.”

Brian, 61, says he didn’t want the responsibility of leading their new party, Coalition New Zealand, because his calling is behind the pulpit and not in the Beehive. Besides, he likes the fact the attention will be directed at his wife and not him for a change.

“I’m looking forward to being in a support role as opposed to being the leader and in the front,” asserts Brian, who founded Destiny Church 21 years ago. “The main support I can offer Hannah is making sure that when she comes home after a long day that this is her place of refuge.”

Home for the Tamaki whanau is a lifestyle block on the outskirts of South Auckland, overlooking beautiful farmlands. It’s home to Brian’s parents Duke and Margaret, their granddaughter Eden, her husband Ford and their one-year-old great granddaughter Vianna, as well as their pet pigs Hamlet and Hazel, and Brian’s hunting dogs.

Hannah, who gets up at 5am each day to do the washing, runs the household. It’s being in charge of this busy home, with the different generations and their own unique sets of problems, that made Hannah realise she had the stamina and skills for politics.