Police have dropped an investigation into a west Auckland pastor who said homosexuals should be put to death, because they found no evidence a crime has been committed.
In a statement to Newshub, a police spokesperson said they had sought legal advice on whether to pursue the matter further, but ultimately decided not to proceed.
Logan Robertson, the pastor at WestCity Bible Baptist Church in Avondale, made headlines on Tuesday after video footage emerged of him making a series of inflammatory comments in his sermons.
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Police said on Wednesday that they were treating his comments "very seriously" and were making enquiries - but suspended their investigation a day later.
"We have considered the appropriate legislation and sought a legal opinion on the matter and we are not in a position to pursue the matter any further, as no criminal offence has been committed," a spokesperson told Newshub.
Police said they had "taken extra precaution" with Mr Robertson because of the nature of his comments, and had spoken to him about both community and personal safety.
Mr Robertson first waded into the media spotlight in 2014, after telling Christian author Jim Marjoram he was praying for him to commit suicide because he was gay.
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Videos on the church's YouTube account show he has repeatedly attacked the gay community.
"I'm not against them getting married as long as a bullet goes through their head the moment they kiss," he said in a sermon about homsexuality in July.
"But we've got Christians that would rather side with them, side with their little f*g cousin or brother or whoever it is."
He also made disparaging remarks about women in leadership - and said new Labour leader Jacinda Arden should not pursue the role of Prime Minister.
"Jacinda Ardern needs to shut up and go home and get in the kitchen, where women belong, and bake a cake for her boyfriend," he said, before adding that he deemed women ruling over a nation "a curse".
WestCity Bible Baptist Church has a congregation of just over 42 people, according to a post on Mr Robertson's personal Facebook page.
It has no association with the Baptist denomination of New Zealand.
Newshub.
