Annual General Change 2026
I am pleased to announce that the Territorial Commander has approved the following appointments which will take effect on Thursday 15 January 2026.
(*) denotes an additional appointment
(r) denotes an appointment in retirement
TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS
PERSONNEL
Major Kylie Tong – Territorial Secretary for Personnel
Major Stuart Tong – Associate Territorial Secretary for Personnel
Captain Eric Turner – Personnel Officer, Upper North Island—based in Hamilton and
Candidates Secretary, Upper North Island—based in Hamilton (*)
Lieutenant Benjamin Cola – Candidates Officer—based in Christchurch (*)
Major Joanne Wardle – Candidates Officer—based in Mosgiel (location change) [*]
Major Katherine Sonntag – Secretary for Retired Officers—based in Mosgiel (*)
MISSION
Captain Pauleen Richards – Mission Support Stream Lead
Captain Julie Turner – Area Officer—based in Hamilton
Envoy Stewart Irwin – Area Officer—based in Wellington
(Envoys Collette and Stewart Irwin will be commissioned this year with the
rank of Captain. Envoy Stewart Irwin will conclude his appointment as Corps
Planting Leader, Petone Corps Plant and Envoy Collette Irwin will remain as
Corps Planting Officer, Petone Corps Plant.)
Major Alister Irwin – Territorial Secretary for Chaplaincy Services and THQ Chaplain
Captain Eric Turner – Director, Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (*)
Captain Jocelyn Smith – Emergency Services Coordinator—based in Oamaru (*)
Major Douglas Newman – Emergency Services Coordinator—based in Tauranga (*)
Captain Andrew Wilson – Emergency Services Coordinator—based in Wellington (*)
SOCIAL MISSION
Major Dale McFarlane – Mission Officer, Epsom Lodge Supportive Housing
Auxiliary-Captain Roslyn Johnson – Chaplain, West Coast Bridge (*)
Captain Bradley Carpenter – Mission Officer, Christchurch Bridge and
Mission Officer, Addington Supportive Housing
Lieutenant Tammy Mohi – Mission Officer Team Leader, Christchurch Bridge and
Mission Officer Team Leader, Addington Supportive Housing
Captain Lynda Pitcher – Support Officer, Christchurch Metro Community Ministries
Major Katherine Sonntag – Chaplain, Mosgiel Salvation Army Social Housing
Spiritual Life Development and Prayer Coordinator—based in Mosgiel (*)
BUSINESS
Lt-Colonel Deborah Clark – Territorial International Development and Supporter Engagement Officer
Major Douglas Newman – Mission Support Facilitator, Family Stores—based in Tauranga (*)
BOOTH COLLEGE OF MISSION—TE WHARE WANANGA O NGA TOA WHAKAORA
SCHOOL FOR OFFICER TRAINING—FIJI
Major Shiv Ram – Assistant Training Principal
Lieutenant Eleni Daucakacaka – Training Officers
Lieutenant Rupeni Daucakacaka
SCHOOL FOR OFFICER TRAINING—UPPER HUTT
Captain Rogena Myrie-Irwin – Spiritual Formation Officer (*)
To be advised – Senior Training Officer
To be advised – Mission Training Officer
TAI TIMU DIVISION
Auxiliary-Captain Ian Wells – Project Officer, Auckland CBD
Cadet Rose Hotene – Mission Officer, Flat Bush Plant and
Chaplain, Flat Bush–Kaitiakitanga, Auckland – Salvation Army Social Housing
(Cadet Rose Hotene will take up her appointment with the rank of Lieutenant
following her commissioning on 13 December 2025, as part of the Keepers of
the Covenant Session—Ngā Kaipupuru i te Kawenata.)
Lieutenant Alanah Moody – Corps Officers, Westgate Corps
Lieutenant Christopher Moody
Captain Kylie Overbye – Corps Officers, Gisborne Corps and
Captain Ralph Overbye – Directors, Gisborne Community Ministries
Captain Benjamin Schischka – Corps Officers and Community Mission Officers, Hamilton City Corps
Captain Karen Schischka
To be advised – Corps Officers and Community Mission Officers, Rotorua Corps
Major Lynnette Medland – Corps Officer, Taupō Corps and
Director, Taupō Community Ministries
Major Douglas Newman – Corps Officers and Community Mission Officers, Tauranga
Major Janet Newman – (Majors Douglas and Janet Newman will be returning to New Zealand following
the conclusion of their international service in Kuwait Region.)
Auxiliary-Captain Neil Henderson – Corps Officers, Waihi Corps
Auxiliary-Captain Tiana Henderson
Auxiliary-Captain Neil Henderson – Spiritual Life Development and Prayer Coordinator—based in Waihi (*)
Captain Jessica Bezzant – Corps Officers, Levin Corps and
Captain Nathan Bezzant – Directors, Levin Community Ministries
Major Phillipa van Abs – Corps Officer, Woodville Corps and
Officer Team Leader, Tararua (*)
Major Robert van Abs – Corps Officer, Woodville Corps
TAI PARI DIVISION
Captain Ruth Wilson – Mission Officer, Newtown Early Childhood Education Centre (*)
[effective immediately]
Captain Grace Duxfield – Manager, Porirua Community Ministries
(Captain Grace Duxfield will conclude her appointment as
Associate Corps Officer, Porirua Corps.)
Cadet Elina Palu – Corps Officers, Ashburton Corps
Cadet Sateki Palu – (Cadets Elina and Sateki Palu will take up their appointments with the rank of
Lieutenant following their commissioning on 13 December 2025, as part of the
Keepers of the Covenant Session—Ngā Kaipupuru i te Kawenata.)
Auxiliary-Captain Roslyn Johnson – Corps Officer, Greymouth Corps
Major Christine De Maine – Corps Officer, Linwood Corps
To be advised – Rolleston Corps Plant
Major Raewyn Gardner – Corps Officers, Sydenham Corps and
Paul Gardner – Directors, Sydenham Community Ministries
(Paul Gardner will take up his appointments with the rank of Major
on 15 January 2026.)
Major Joanne Wardle – Corps Officers, Mosgiel Corps
Major Ross Wardle
FIJI DIVISION
Major Amelia Naviko – Divisional Secretary for Personnel
(Major Amelia Naviko will continue her additional appointment as
Divisional Secretary for Women’s Ministries/Assistant Officer DHQ.)
Major Taburerei Ram – Assistant Divisional Community Ministries Secretary and
Divisional Leadership Development Secretary (*)
Major Lasarusa Turaga – Divisional Court and Correction Services Officer/Chaplain
Envoy Sikeli Bogileka – Corps Leaders, Lomaivuna Corps
Envoy Titilia Bogileka
Lieutenant Elizabeth Walker-Ratuniyauravu – Corps Officers, Nasinu Corps
Lieutenant Semi Ratuniyauravu
Major Litiana Cola – Mission Support Officer, Nausori Corps Plant (*)
No replacement – Navua Corps Plant to close
Major Arone Cheer – Corps Officers, Suva Central Corps
Major Tauantabo Cheer
Captain Mereyani Bacaivalu – Assistant Officers, Suva Central Corps
Captain Ponipate Bacaivalu
Lieutenant Sailosi Laliqavoka – Corps Officers, Taveuni Corps
Lieutenant Salaseini Laliqavoka
TONGA REGION
Captain Selalina Prescott – Regional Secretary for Women’s Ministries and
Regional Community Ministries Officer (*) and
Pea Kindergarten Chaplain (*)
Captain ‘Eliesa Prescott – Regional Mission Secretary/Supporter Engagement Officer
Lieutenant Sekilini Vasu – Regional Children’s Secretary
Major ‘Akesa Mosa’ati – Corps Planting Officers, Kolovai Corps Plant
Major Petuliki Mosa’ati
Major ‘Akesa Mosa’ati – Kolovai Kindergarten Chaplain (*)
Major ‘Asena Sifa-Folau – Corps Officer, Nuku’alofa Corps and
Sopu Kindergarten Chaplain (*)
Lieutenant Meleseini Otainao – Corps Planting Officers, Vava’u Corps Plant
Lieutenant Peter Otainao
SAMOA REGION
Captain Michelle Lee – Regional Leaders and
Captain Stewart Lee – Corps Officers, Apia Corps and Community Ministries
Employee – Regional Spiritual Life Development and Prayer Coordinator
OFFICERS RETIRING
Major Gavin Baxter
Major Kesoni Qoriniasi
Major Kevin Waugh
OFFICERS CONCLUDING APPOINTMENTS IN RETIREMENT
Major Denise Crump
Major Stephen Crump
Major David Noakes
Major Margaret Ousey
Major Pamela Waugh
We pray God’s continued blessing over these leaders as they prepare and transition into these new appointments.
Gerry Walker
Colonel
CHIEF SECRETARY