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The Salvation Army is closing its doors in Howick, marking the end of a close 38-year relationship of service, contributions and fellowship with east Auckland.
The Times has heard speculation in the community that the closure was coming, but a final decision was only made by Salvation Army (Te Ope Whakaora) hierarchy in Wellington over the past week.
Coming on the heels of the Salvation Army’s comprehensive State of the Nation 2025 report last week, the Sallies’ chief secretary Gerry Walker confirmed to the Times in a statement from its Wellington headquarters it’s shutting down operations in Howick.
“We can confirm that we are withdrawing from the East City Corps on Friday, March 14,” says Walker.
“This is due to our work at that location becoming unsustainable. It’s important to note the building is not being demolished.”
The building Walker refers to is the well-established Salvation Army base at 37-45 Wellington Street, Howick.
“People and their whānau in the East City area can still get help from us at 18 Allright Place, Mt Wellington, and 175 Chapel Road, Flat Bush, at the Kaitiakitanga Housing Community,” Walker says.
When the Times visited the Wellington Street property on Wednesday morning, it was a hive of activity.
There were mothers and their children seeing Salvation Army East City Corps’ staff and volunteers, and the food pantry (foodbank) was open with people collecting the donated goods for free.
A sign in the window reads: ‘It is with great sadness that we must advise The Salvation Army East City’s Foodbank and Drop In will be permanently closing.
‘Our final day is the 28th February 2025. This has been a hard decision which we know affects our local community greatly, please be advised of the other local foodbanks.’
The notice goes on to list foodbanks operated by the Salvation Army and other churches in the east Auckland and Manukau areas.
In Walker’s statement, he says: “Kai is also still available at places including the Howick Baptist Church (17 Wellington Street in Howick, 09 534 5142), All Saints Church Howick (corner of Cook Street and Selwyn Road, but you’ll need to call 09 534 6864, and they’re closed Wednesdays), Star of the Sea Church (24 Picton Street) and Elim Church Botany (159 Botany Road in Botany, but you’ll need to call 09 538 0360 first for kai).”
Despite the difficult decision to finish operations in Howick, of the Salvation Army’s future focus, Walker says: “We remain committed to Auckland, and to Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Our doors are open to everyone – last year we helped more than 135,000 Kiwis and their whānau across the motu.”
On the East City Corps website, it says: ‘The Salvation Army has had a strong presence in East Auckland since 1987’.
‘The East City Corps operates out of a fully equipped community centre in the heart of Howick, providing a variety of services to the community and hosting weekly family worship services.’
The foodbank has opened twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays and many east Auckland families have become reliant on the goodwill service.
Sunday church worship services stopped in early December.
Summarising the substantial Salvation Army State of the Nation 2025 report of February 12, its director of the social policy and parliamentary unit, Dr Bonnie Robinson, says: “We can’t wish away the increasing levels of poverty and deprivation that this report is highlighting.
“But we can prioritise addressing the basic needs of people so that our whanau go beyond barely surviving to seeing them thrive.
“We need an economy that ensures all people have the basics and one that puts people first.”
- The Times has put more questions to the Salvation Army hierarchy, in relation to its retail charity shops in east Auckland, staffing and volunteers, and awaits the answers.
