Tamaki later said the tweet was not serious.

The department wouldn't go further into detail "relating to a threat, or our response," but said it took "all threats to the safety and security of our sites seriously".

In April, a war of words broke out between Tamaki and government ministers, including Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis and Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

Tamaki said he wanted Government funding to introduce his Man Up programme into prisons, but Davis stated Tamaki had failed to follow proper application procedures.

Among several tweets he posted about the funding not going ahead, Tamaki wrote that "we will plan thru private visits to inmates in every Prison to bring Man Up in and cause inmate revolts in evey prison (sic)".

He subsequently said his tweet came out of frustration from the obstacles the programme had faced.

"I put that tweet out because they refused to listen, so what do you do when you've got something that our indigenous people want.

"Inmates are writing letters every day, I can give you letters."

Tamaki said the tweet which talked of revolts was designed to get attention.

"The incitement is not serious, really, I can't cause that in prisons, how do I do that? We're not even allowed in ... but I got your attention, that's what it was."

Tamaki says the programme has a success rate for non-reoffending of 72 per cent.

The Man Up programme claims to have more than 300 groups operating in every main city and town in New Zealand, as well as groups running internationally in Australia and Cambodia.

Source

• tvnz.co.nz
• newshub.co.nz
• Image: newshub.co.nz

Tamaki made the comments Monday, on Q+A.

Threatening to re-enter politics if nothing is done to stop Maori families suffering and to fix the prison system he said he may need to talk to Hone Harawira about taking Corrections Minister, Kelvin Davis' Te Tai Tokerau seat.

Calling New Zealand prisons "our rotting dark shame", Tamaki's concern is that the Government is not allowing his Man Up programme in prisons.

The programme targets troubled men, particular Maori men, and claims to help to break cycles of violence and repeat offending.

Calling Davis a liar, Tamaki also threatened to call on inmates to revolt if the Government continues to deny the programme.

Saying the justice system is broken, he told Q+A that it's not him on trial but Kelvin Davis.

Questioned about his comments last week attacking the Government, Tamaki said he would apologise if the Government came to the table.

"Someone needs to have the political courage to stand up in Parliament or in this Government and say, 'You know what, we're not going to continue to see our Maori families suffer'.

"I mean we need a change, we can't leave it like this.

"So if that (political courage) does not happen then maybe I'll have to ring my mate Hone Harawira up in the north and say, 'Brother we might have to take this electorate'."

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis denies Tamaki's claim that the Government has stifled his attempts for the church to work in prisons.

Instead, he claims Tamaki has not applied through the proper channels.

Tamaki says he tried email, formal letters and talking to ministers.

He says he applied through Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Justice Minister Andrew Little and Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis himself.

Tamaki says he has spoken with Peters and Little and that both are mystified Davis would not receive his formal approaches.

The Man Up programme is affiliated to Destiny Church.

Sources

• NewsHub
• Twitter
• CathNews
• Image: Man Up