December 2025
Official Engagements
Commissioner Janine Donaldson (Territorial Commander)
7 December: Carol Service at Parliament
10 December: NZ Covenant Day, Booth College of Mission, Upper Hutt
12 December: NZ Graduation Ceremony, Hutt City Corps
13 December: NZ Ordination and Commissioning Service, Hutt City Corps
13 December: Long Service Order Dinner, Naumi Hotel, Wellington
14 December: NZ Silver Star Presentation, Booth College of Mission, Upper Hutt
2026
17 January: Amplify, Silverstream Retreat
24 January: Major Kevin Waugh’s Retirement Service, Feilding
Colonel Jennifer Groves (Chief Secretary)
7 December: Territorial Online Praying Together meeting
10 December: NZ Covenant Day, Booth College of Mission, Upper Hutt
12 December: NZ Graduation Ceremony, Hutt City Corps
13 December: NZ Ordination and Commissioning Service, Hutt City Corps
13 Dec ember : Long Service Order Dinner, Naumi Hotel, Wellington
14 December: NZ Silver Star Presentation, Booth College of Mission
21 December: Christmas Carols in the Carpark, Hutt City Corps
2026
17 January: Amplify, Silverstream Retreat, Upper Hutt
31 January: NZ Welcome to Cadets, Booth College of Mission
Lt-Colonel Liz Gainsford (Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development)
7 December: Territorial Online Praying Together meeting
10 December: NZ Covenant Day, Booth College of Mission, Upper Hutt
12 December: NZ Graduation Ceremony, Hutt City Corps
13 December: NZ Ordination and Commissioning Service, Hutt City Corps
2026
31 January: NZ Welcome to Cadets, Booth College of Mission, Upper Hutt
Gazette
Appointments: Effective 15 January 2026, Lieutenant Lashana Dale has been appointed Territorial Candidates Secretary, Senior Training Officer and Mission Training Officer at Booth College of Mission.
Effective 15 January, Lieutenant Sailosi Laliqavoka will remain appointed as corps officer, Lomaivuna Corps, Fiji.
Effective 15 January, Envoys Sikeli and Titilia Bogileka have been appointed assistant corps leaders, Lomaivuna Corps, Fiji.
Effective 15 January, Lieutenants Akuila and Bale Tuinaceva have been appointed corps officers, Taveuni Corps, Fiji.
Effective 15 January, Captain Varea Rika have been appointed corps officers, Taveuni Corps, Fiji.
Auxiliary Captains with Appointment: Effective 15 January 2026, Aux Captains Kerry and Tanya Robertson have been appointed Corps Officers, Hibiscus Coast Corps.
Continuation of Appointment: Effective immediately, Majors Stephen and Denise Crump are continuing their appointment in retirement as Corps Officers and Community Mission Officers, Rotorua.
Promotion to Glory:
Colonel Laurence Hay was promoted to Glory on Friday 19 December 2025 from Malvina Major Hospital, Wellington, aged 85 years.
Laurence and Margaret Hay were commissioned in January 1969 as part of the ‘Messengers of the Faith’ session.
We give thanks to God for Laurence’s faithful dedicated service in New Zealand, Zambia, Hong Kong and International Headquarters.
Please uphold in prayer Laurence’s wife Margaret, children Mary, Jeremy, Michael and Susanna and his sisters, Lt Colonel Daphne Rabbitts and Major Glenys Heese, and other family members at this time of grief and loss.
Major Desmond (Des) Buckner was promoted to Glory on 26 October 2025, from Christchurch, aged 80 years. Desmond and his wife Cherie entered training college from Sumner Corps in 1968, as cadets in the Evangelists session.
They were commissioned on 17 January 1970, and Des was appointed as boys officer at Hodderville Boys Home. During this appointment Des started pub ministry in Te Rau and Putāruru along with junior soldiers and corps cadets at Hodderville and supported the establishment of the outpost at Tokoroa.
In January 1972, Des and Cherie were appointed as corps officers, Wainuiomata Corps. A number of corps appointments followed as: corps officers, Tokoroa Corps (1974); corps officers, Te Aroha Corps (1976); Corps Officers, Edendale Corps (1978); and corps cfficers, Spreydon Corps (1981).
In January 1983, Des was appointed as house master, Addington Social Service Centre, Christchurch, followed by an appointment in January 1987 as assistant manager, Norman Kirk Eventide Home, Upper Hutt. In October 1989, Des and Cherie moved to Paeroa where Des was appointed as manager, Ohinemuri Eventide Home. While in this appointment, Des and Cherie also established Paeroa Corps. This was followed by an appointment as director, Epsom Lodge, Auckland, in January 1998.
In January 2000, Des was appointed as manager, Rotoroa Island, with additional appointments as corps officer, Rotoroa Island Corps and Associate Director, Auckland Bridge Programme. This was followed by appointments in January 2003 as manager and referral officer, Resthaven Eventide Home and Independent Living Units, Christchurch, and in 2004 as acting manager at Bethany Resthome, Christchurch, and at Redroofs Resthome, Dunedin.
It was from this appointment that Majors Des and Cherie Buckner retired from active service on 17 January 2005.
Des and Cherie continued to serve their Lord in retirement as pastoral care coordinators at Christchurch City Corps, starting in 2006. Des was appointed as divisional prayer coordinator, Southern Division, in June 2006. Des also served in appointments in retirement, each for six months, as: acting manager, public relations officer (2007); acting director, Addington Men’s Home (2011 and 2015).
We honour Major Desmond Buckner for his devoted, humble service as an officer in The Salvation Army. Des continued to serve his Lord faithfully in retirement in many practical ways including as Driving Mentor, and leading prayer groups. Many people will give thanks for Des’ pastoral care and support.
Please remember Des’ wife Cherie, his children Shane, Glen, Aaron and Vanessa, and extended family in your prayers at this time of grief and loss.
Bereavement: Grant Froggatt, the brother of Major Hylton Froggatt, passed away on 16 October 2025 from Christchurch. We ask you to uphold Majors Hylton and Ruth Froggatt, along with other extended family members, in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Siale Teafekai Tuiono, the brother of Lieutenant Initi Tuiono, and uncle of Lieutenant Meleseini Otainao, passed away on 16 October 2025 from Auckland. We ask you to uphold Lieutenants Initi Tuiono and Meleseini Otainao, along with other extended family members, in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Norman Millar, the eldest brother of Majors David and Bill Millar, uncle of Major Christina Tyson and Major Brenton Millar, was promoted to Glory on 16 October, from Wellington. We ask you to uphold Norman’s wife Mavis and his children, Major David Millar & Majors Bill & Alison Millar along with other family members in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Howard Saunders, the brother of Major Karl Saunders, passed away on 7 November 2025 from his home. We ask you to uphold Major Karl Saunders, along with other extended family members, in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Arona Collins, the brother of Major Silone Collins, passed away recently, from Wellington. We ask you to uphold Major Silone Collins and other family members in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
