From 26 to 28 September 2025, people gathered from all points of The Salvation Army’s New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, New Zealand, for the Together Congress 2025.
The weekend was a powerful celebration of unity, cultural richness and spiritual renewal, with delegates from the four nations – who had not been together for six years – experiencing shared worship and mission fellowship.
The congress opened with a deeply moving pōwhiri, a traditional Māori ceremony of welcome, honouring the presence of The Salvation Army’s international leaders General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham (World President of Women’s Ministries). It was a moment of reverence, hospitality and connection to the land and its people.
A celebration of culture
Throughout the congress, the Fiji, Tonga and Samoa delegations brought vibrant energy that enriched every moment. Their cultural expressions – through music, dance, language and dress – added colour, depth and authenticity to the gathering. From powerful Pacific songs to traditional attire and heartfelt testimonies, their presence reminded all delegates of the beauty and strength found in the territory’s diversity. These contributions were not just performances, but acts of worship, identity and unity.
The Buckinghams, the first New Zealanders to lead The Salvation Army in its 160-year history, delivered stirring messages that reverberated across the territory, igniting hearts with renewed purpose. Their call was unmistakable and urgent: ‘We are commissioned to be salt and light in a world aching for healing and hungry for hope.’ What also shone through was the undeniable joy they felt as they stood among familiar faces in their homeland – a moment rich with warmth and connection.
A powerful sense of divine orchestration emerged when it was acknowledged that both the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory and the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory had this year named their gatherings Together. This was seen by some as a prophetic declaration of global alignment, spiritual unity and shared mission. It was a reminder that the work of transformation is not isolated, but collective; not temporal, but eternal.
Faith in action
On Saturday afternoon, delegates stepped out into the community for ‘Love Kirikiriroa’, a city-wide outreach initiative to serve others. From rubbish clean-ups and prayer walks to toy-making for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, delegates lived out the mission of being Christ’s hands and feet. It was a living testimony to the Army’s often-stated mission: ‘Heart to God, hand to man.’
The Together Festival added a celebratory dimension to the weekend. With food trucks, live music, pop-up markets and family-friendly activities, the event welcomed the wider Hamilton community into the congress experience. Territorial Commander Commissioner Janine Donaldson described it as ‘a festival for the whole community’, and it truly was a joyful expression of faith, fellowship and inclusion.
Workshops and breakout sessions offered space for reflection, learning and spiritual growth, and included contributions from missiologist and prolific writer on mission Mike Frost. Delegates explored themes of leadership, justice, youth empowerment and holistic mission.
The congress was more than an event; it was a prophetic moment in the life of the territory. A declaration that, together, we are called to be light in the darkness, salt in the fire and love in action.
By Vivienne Hill, Communications Manager and Editor of SALT, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory
