The Salvation Army in the South Pacific

This year, we celebrate 40 years of The Salvation Army in Tonga, but our presence in the region goes back much further.

Representatives of The Salvation Army first visited Fiji in 1904, but it wasn’t until 1972 that a plan was hatched to develop relationships with the Melanesian country. That year, a team from Aotearoa New Zealand spent 10 days exploring how The Salvation Army could start operations in Fiji and, by April 1973, the first corps was established. Initially called Bagasau Corps, it was later renamed Suva Central Corps.

Projects were soon up and running, with one of the first being a youth rehabilitation scheme on the main island Viti Levu, with Sunday meetings starting in March 1975. Over the next two decades, various initiatives were set up, including a social welfare centre in Suva, a Family Care Centre providing emergency accommodation for women and children, and a poverty-alleviation housing project.

The establishment of The Salvation Army in Tonga came much later, beginning in 1985 under Fijian officers, Captains Tifare and Rebecca Inia, which led to the Army officially opening in Nuku’alofa in January 1986. A fishing vessel was acquired for a fishing work scheme and a farming project with a focus on growing kumara and taro was initiated to provide cheap food.

By the mid-90s, alcohol and drug use had become significant concerns in Tonga, so the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Centre was set up in the capital in 1998. The centre also focused on health issues, including HIV/AIDS awareness and women’s health.

The establishment of a presence in Samoa occurred in 2018 but was the result of longer-term work in the country. That work began in 1984, when contact was made with the Samoan authorities by the regional commander in Fiji. Further contact was made over the next few decades which led to seeking official registration and the appointment of officers.

The then Samoan Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’illele Malielegaoi, was keen to have The Salvation Army carry out its work in preventing drug and alcohol dependency.

Plans were soon put in place to establish a corps and an addiction treatment centre. Work was developed under the auspices of Salvation Army leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to reflect the new opening in Samoa, the name of the territory was updated to New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory.