Former Youth leader of the Destiny Church, Kiwa Hamiora-Te Hira, was closed for six years for boys sexual abuse

A former youth leader of the Church of Destiny, who sexually abused several young boys was sentenced to six years in prison.

Kiwa Hamiora-Te Hira pleaded guilty at the end of last year for a series of sexual violations and accusations of indecent aggression.

The attacks took place over the course of five years, while Hira’s Hira worked for youth programs understood to be connected to the Destiny Church.

“Violation of trust in this case was obvious, there is no other way to describe it,” said Judge Clare Bennett, before pronouncing his sentence to Manukau District Court on Monday.

“These young people have placed their confidence in Mr. Hamira-Te Hira … and abused that confidence.”

The sentence was preceded by impact statements of six victims who described the feeling betrayed by a person whom they thought is a role model and even a father figure.

The judge said that the attacks seemed to have a “high degree of premeditation”, because they have largely involved Hira who invites the boys, between the ages of 13 and 24, at his home.

“The crime was persistent … over five and a half years. For (a victim) it happened more than 100 times,” said Judge Bennett.

She told the attacks in detail, most of them took place while the boys were sleeping in Hamira-Te Hira’s house.

Hira’s lawyer’s lawyer, Kelly-Ann Stoikoff, said he “struggles with his sexuality.”

“Most unfortunately for everyone, he allowed himself to surrender to his feelings,” she said.

“It also determined Mr. Hamira on a road of self-disappointment and self-injury.”

Judge Bennett pushed this characterization again.

“It’s not just a confusion of sexuality. Is Mrs. Stoikoff? She abused by very young victims.”

Hamiora-te Hira was sentenced to 76 months in prison, which included a 25 percent discount for his previous guilt.

The judge also confirmed that he will be added to the register of sex criminals for children.

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