Catharina Siraa is the Operations Advisor at the National Support Centre and is also a member of Royal Oak Baptist Church.
Every November, our Baptist churches gather to pray, discern, and celebrate together. It’s a rhythm that keeps us coming together each year to remember who we are as a movement: people seeking God’s leading, together. In 2025, that gathering will take place 6–8 November at Palmerston North Central Baptist Church.
More than a conference
For those who’ve been before, Hui is often described less as a conference and more as a family reunion. There are hugs at the door, conversations that pick up where they left off a year ago, and times of worship that remind us of our shared foundation in Christ. Decisions are made, yes—but they are made through prayer, Scripture, and dialogue, trusting that the Spirit is guiding our collective steps.
As one pastor reflected after last year’s Hui: “I came expecting to sit through reports and voting. What I experienced was being drawn into the story of what God is doing across Aotearoa. It felt like family.”
And its not just for pastors! Each church is encouraged to send at least three delegates to represent them at National Hui, but the more the merrier. From elders, senior pastors, youth pastors, interested congregants, long term mission supporters, and even our Carey students, National Hui attendees come from a range of spaces and backgrounds, giving depth and diversity to the discussions that we share. Two exciting options are in place for 2025 to make Hui more accessible for everyone:
Under 35’s Registrations
Are you under 35 years old? We’re excited by the growing cohort of leaders in this generation, and we want to encourage you to be present at National Hui. Under 35 year olds can enjoy significantly discounted Hui tickets, for just $150! (Standard registration is $280)
Virtual Registration
This year we’re offering a virtual attendance option. If you can’t make it to Palmerston North, maybe due to travel costs or work commitments. Please consider how you might join us virtually. A livestream programme and link will be provided for all virtual attendees, and for the first time – following our constitution changes last year, virtual attendees that are church voting delegates will be able to vote without being present in-person. Virtual registration cost is $30.
A year of new chapters and celebrations
Hui 2025 will be a particularly significant gathering. We’ll welcome both a new National Leader (if the National and Mission Council’s recommendation is affirmed at Hui by the vote) and a new Carey Baptist College Principal—moments that will shape our collective life for years to come. We’ll celebrate 140 years of Arotahi’s mission legacy, giving thanks for generations of faithful service and asking what mission looks like in the next season. And, as always, we’ll pause to celebrate newly registered pastors, long-serving leaders, and welcome new churches and fellowships into our Baptist whānau.
Space to grow and connect
Before Hui formally begins, there are additional opportunities to gather in smaller, focused ways. Youth leaders will meet at Foxton Beach for the BYM Hui; chaplains will head to Base Ohakea for a day of encouragement (and some flight sim?!); and leaders and administrators can sharpen their skills through the Church Management Workshop. Arotahi’s popular Mission Day will return this year as Mission Night—an evening of food, stories, and inspiration.
These pre-Hui gatherings provide rich space to connect, learn, and be encouraged before we all join together in Palmerston North on the Thursday morning.
Breakfasts on the Friday and Saturday mornings also provide a space of learning and connection. On Friday listen as Lynne Taylor gives the 2025 Sutherland Lecture on Project Violet in the context of Aotearoa, and on Saturday join other women in ministry for the annual Women’s Breakfast.
Listening to the Spirit
The theme woven through Hui 2025 is the Acts 2 Movement—a global call to rediscover the simple, Spirit-empowered rhythms of the early church: prayer, fellowship, breaking bread, and mission. Hui will give us space to reflect on what that could look like in Aotearoa, and how we might enter this new season together.
Why Hui matters
When we gather as a Baptist family, something unique happens. Local stories meet national collaboration. Individual voices shape collective direction. And in the midst of it all, we are reminded that we are part of God’s mission together.
As one delegate put it: “Hui is where I remember that our small church in a small town is part of something so much bigger. It lifts my eyes.”
Join the journey
Whether you come in person or register virtually, Hui is a space for you. It’s for pastors, elders, youth leaders, chaplains, mission partners, administrators, and anyone who calls a Baptist church home.
So mark your calendar: 6–8 November 2025. Come expectant, come prayerful, and come ready to celebrate what God is doing across our movement.
Registrations are now open
Go to hui.baptist.nz
Early Bird prices end Wednesday 10 September 11.59pm.
All registrations close 15 October 11.59pm (including Virtual Attendees)
