It’s a Wrap!
Last year was a productive and interesting year for The Salvation Army Rūnanga and Te Tai Hono. Tracey Cooper gives us an overview of the highlights and achievements for 2025 and plans for 2026.
Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina
Seek out the distant horizons, while cherishing those achievements at hand.
In 2026, our Te Tai Hono team (previously Māori Ministry) once again travelled north to welcome friends and whānau (family) at Waitangi who joined us in commemorating the founding document of our nation. Waitangi is more than just a day, with the entire Waitangi week holding a special place for Te Ope Whakaora, The Salvation Army, as our leaders played important roles in events being held up and down the motu (land).
In 2025, we were honoured to support Rūnanga co-chair Bishop Te Kītohi Pikaahu (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Te Roroa and Ngāti Whātua iwi), Captain Hana Seddon (Ngāpuhi, Te Rawawa) and our newly appointed territorial commander, Commissioner Janine Donaldson, as they stood on the mahau of Te Whare Rūnanga with other faith leaders and delivered their kōrero (speeches) to the gathered crowds, with thousands watching the livestream in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
In May, Hana completed her mission with Te Ope Whakaora, and along with the departures of Captains Peter Koia and Jenny Ratana-Koia.
However, in December we welcomed our newest Māori officer, Lieutenant Rose Hotene, who graduated from Booth College of Mission (BCM) as part of the Keepers of the Covenant—Ngā Kaipupuru i te Kawenata session (see page 8). Te Tai Hono supported Rose through her training and we look forward to seeing her impact on the community she now serves, as mission officer, Flat Bush Plant, and social housing chaplain. Being in South Auckland means Rose has ample support from her fellow Māori officers, Captain Faye Molen, Manurewa Corps and Captain Maree O’Brien, Manukau Central Corps.
Strengthening ties
At our inaugural Māori Officers’ Hui, held in October, eight officers gathered to connect, worship, wānanga (shared knowledge)and look ahead to the collective challenges we face.
The Hui was held at our whare (meeting house) at BCM. The whare provides an important base for Māori and others within Te Ope Whakaora and further plans are underway for a dedicated National Whare Rūnanga to physically represent a place for Māori within Te Ope Whakaora and to contribute to a sense of tūrangawaewae (a place to stand) and a place where Te Ope Whakaora tikanga (protocol) is observed as a regular part of daily life.
Te Tai Hono also held wānanga with Manurewa and Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) Corps to build relationships and offer support, while the Rūnanga held a successful hui (gathering) with Manukau Central Corps.
Gathering at Congress
Like the rest of Te Ope Whakaora, Congress 2025 was a huge event for Te Tai Hono. Tumu Whakarae (Principal Leader) Richard Kerr-Bell delivered an important workshop at Congress, highlighting the personal and organisational change the Kawenata (Covenant) calls for in Aotearoa to fully live the Gospel of Christ; while the Te Tai Hono stand created a visible and popular presence for Māori.
Many of our whānau attending Congress were accommodated at Tauhei Marae, providing another example of manaakitanga (hospitality) and tikanga in action.
Incoming leaders
Hana, Jenny and Peter’s departures, along with the retirement of Chief Secretary Colonel Gerry Walker, created vacancies on our Rūnanga and we welcomed Dr Vanessa Caldwell (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Te Rapuwai, Waitaha, Ngati Huirapa) and newly appointed Chief Secretary Colonel Jennifer Groves to their roles.
A pōwhiri (welcome) was held for Jennifer at Cuba Street in November as she began her new role. Attending the pōwhiri was former officer Wayne Moses who joined Te Tai Hono as kaumātua (elder) after being endorsed for the role by Bishop Kito. We are immensely grateful to Wayne for the mana, institutional knowledge and giftings he brings to the role.
Also in 2025, we saw the appointment of three major roles within the team. Charm Skinner (Ngāti Wairere) is a lawyer and an expert on human rights, indigenous rights, diversity and inclusion. In 2019, she was the first indigenous scholar to win a scholarship to join the United Nations’ Indigenous Fellowship Programme and is a former Youth MP in the New Zealand Parliament. Charm works as the te ao Māori policy analyst in the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit but also has a role with Te Tai Hono. Charm has been engaged in the annual State of the Nation Report, being launched this month, and has been instrumental in ensuring that for the first time the report will be presented within a te ao Māori (Māori worldview) framework.
Charm has also made a significant contribution to several Te Tai Hono wānanga and hui held around the motu.
Many of these wānanga have been led by Jonas Hare-Taoho (Tuhoe), who began his role as te kaea—cultural activations lead—early in 2025. Jonas is a highly regarded educationalist and has been immersed in tikanga Māori all his life. He has hosted wānanga in several corps, including Manurewa, Glenfield and West Auckland, alongside having an increased profile and influence at BCM.
Pipiwharauroa Campbell (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti He, Ngāti Pūkenga) previously served as pou ahurea national Māori lead for Addictions, Supportive Housing and Reintegration Services and joined Te Tai Hono as tai rere, responsible for policy and growing iwi relationships. He has been instrumental in achieving significant gains in policy areas, with his draft Cultural Safety Policy accepted by Te Ope Whakaora.
Alongside this mahi, Pipiwharauroa has completed the background work for our scholarships package, which was launched early in 2025. These scholarships fulfil one of our key aims: to foster Māori leadership within Te Ope Whakaora, and with many of our whānau not being in a position to fund further education, we see this is a significant step to growing leadership within the organisation.
The scholarships, with a total value of $50,000, encourage innovation in developing Māori within our workforce and non-Māori in areas that support the revitalisation of the Māori language.
Three scholarships are available: the Pou Tuarongo, Te Ao Māori Advancement Scholarship is for all Te Ope Whakaora learners whose study will promote, advance or strengthen te ao Māori; the Pou Tāhū, Social Services Pathway Scholarship supports Māori pursuing studies in social services, community work or related fields; the Pou Tokomanawa, Pathways of Excellence Scholarship, supports Māori to walk boldly in the direction of their aspirations, whatever shape they may take.
The scholarships are a significant development for Te Tai Hono and the benefits will be seen in our corps, whānau and communities as Te Tai Hono continues fulfilling its mission of ensuring Māori engaging with Te Ope Whakaora can thrive and realise the fullness of life as God intended.
