There are calls for a church which has its roots in Rotorua to be stripped of its tax free status.

The petition against the Destiny Church is a backlash to Brian Tamaki's homophobic sermon blaming gays, sinners and murderers for earthquakes.

The sermon was delivered one day before the massive 7.8 earthquake which struck Kaikoura. killing two people, stranding thousands of others and causing billions of dollars of damage.

Along with stripping the church of its tax free status, the Change.org petition also seeks to reclassify Destiny as a 'hate group”. At the time of writing, the petition had gained 64,805 supporters.

The petition fired up after the self-appointed ‘Bishop' of Destiny Church told his congregation 'the earth convulses under the weight of certain human sin.”

Tamaki's comments drew an instant barrage of condemnation.

Newstalk radio host Rachel Smalley describes Tamaki's views as ‘bigoted' and makes him the greatest sinner of us all.

'He has the right to free speech,” believes Smalley. 'But there's a fine line between free speech and being an ill-informed, ignorant, bigoted ass.”

Speaking to Willie Jackson on RadioLive Thursday afternoon, Tamaki refused to apologise to anyone.

'I do plenty of good in the community and should not be judged as a monster.”

Since his sermon, Tamaki says he and his family have received death threats and threats to burn down Destiny Church.

He defends saying gays, sinners and murders are responsible for earthquakes, explaining he actually meant anybody indulging in illicit sexual behaviour, adultery, child abuse and more.

"It's about adultery, morality, it's about any type of extra-sexual behaviour."

He believes it is important for people to remember this is 'God's view”, not his.

Jackson's co-host, Ali Mau who is in a same-sex relationship and has stated publicly that she is bisexual, took issue with Tamaki in the studio prior to the interview. In a tweet she called Tamaki a fool and walked out when he tried to say hello to her.

I'm not on my usual shift today.. Probably a good thing pic.twitter.com/ANnQmgdYll

— Alison Mau (@Alisonmau) November 17, 2016

Human Rights Commissioner Richard Tankersley says Tamaki's "frankly disgusting" comments are both ignorant and ironic, given Wednesday was UN International Day for Tolerance.

"Mr Tamaki's words are a lesson to us all that intolerance and prejudice is very real. When families are mourning loved ones and many more are scared and wondering how to face the next day, this kind of message is frankly, disgusting.”

Richard is encouraging New Zealanders to continue to 'look to our earthquake scientists and our civil defence experts for guidance, rather than putting their trust in Mr Tamaki's sermons.”

The Prime Minister calls Tamaki's suggestion ‘ridiculous', saying 'you always get people coming out with these stupid statements”.

'And Tamaki is the moral and spiritual guardian for his flock?” questions a gay man in a message to SunLive.

'If Tamaki wasn't so pathetic he would be alarming. And I know that I am a much better man than him.”

While another message to SunLive describes Tamaki's sermon as 'potentially very dangerous”

'He is surrounded by ill-educated people who would not question his indoctrination and absorb all the hate.”

SunLive has sought comment from the Tauranga branch of Destiny Church and is waiting on a response.

To view the petition visit: www.change.org/p/john-key-strip-destiny-church-from-tax-free-status