Maori Muslim leader Te Amorangi Kireka-Whaanga is calling on “souljahs of Allah” to help him form their own Islamic state. The self-proclaimed peace advocate announced on his Facebook that he has changed the Aotearoa Maori Muslim Association name to Islamic State of Aotearoa.

Kireka-Whaanga, who was named as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world in 2010, and only one of the two New Zealanders to make the list, has previously pledged his support for Islamic state on social media.

“...all those cool staunch souljahs of Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala make your way to Hastings and lets erect the Aotearoa Islamic State,” (sic) he wrote on Facebook on Sunday,” inviting all Muslim souljah warriors and followers of Muhammad to go to Hastings to help him form the new group.

He added, “out with the old and in with the new, lets radiate the power of truth the magic of it upon starving souls of mankind.” (sic)

Although Kireka-Whaanga declared himself to be a peace advocate who is trying to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule found his Facebook posts to be “very concerning.” He thinks that “normal, law-abiding” Kiwis would condemn Kireka-Whaanga’s behaviour.

“When you have our own citizens setting up a terrorist-style cult within New Zealand, then the agencies on behalf of New Zealand will do anything they can to stamp them out. I don’t think there’s any place in New Zealand for these Islamic cults,” he was quoted by the Hawke’s Bay Today as saying.

A fellow Muslim man who did not wish to be named also told the paper that Kireka-Whaanga’s views did not reflect those of the wider Muslim community. Apparently, Kireka-Whaanga, also known as “Izhaq,” is believed to have “gone mad.”

In November, Kireka-Whaanga told the Sunday Star-Times that he understood the Islamic State actions, adding that the United Nations doesn’t care about Muslims being killed around the world.

“If you practice your religion then of course you’ll be 100 percent behind Islamic State,” he said. He added that Prime Minister John Key was right to be worried about the Islamic State because it would “bring down Western civilisation.” He had wanted to move to Syria with his family, but he already knew that his passport would be cancelled.