Scouts New Zealand

History

For the history of Scouting in New Zealand generally, from 1908 see Scouting in New Zealand.

In 1923, The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom formed a branch in New Zealand and set about re-organising scouting according to its Policy, Organisation and Rules and establishing its Wolf Cubs and Rover programs. The Boy Scouts Association's New Zealand branch was incorporated in 1941 as The Boy Scouts Association (New Zealand Branch), Incorporated which changed its name to The Boy Scouts Association of New Zealand in 1956 and then to The Scout Association of New Zealand in 1967. The Scout Association of New Zealand uses the name Scouts New Zealand.

Until 1953 the New Zealand branch was represented internationally through The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom. In 1953, the New Zealand branch became a direct member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

In 1963, the Venturer Scout section was introduced.

In 1976, the first females became members of the Venturer section, on a trial basis. In 1979, females were formally admitted and the Venturer section became co-ed. In 1987, girls were formally admitted into the Scout section. This was followed by girls being admitted into the Kea and Cub programs in 1989.

In 1979, Mr. Arthur W.V. Reeve was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.

Sections

Scouts New Zealand now uses the school years.

All section programs are coeducational. The Scout Association of New Zealand has similar program sections as The Scout Association in the United Kingdom, although the names are slightly different: Beavers are called Keas, Venturers in place of Explorers, and Rovers in place of the Scout Network.

The four cornerstones are:

Keas

The Keas' promise: "I will try to share my fun and help others." The Keas' motto: "I share, I care, I discover, I grow."

Cubs

The Cubs' Promise:

The Cub Law:

Scouts

The Scout Motto is "Be Prepared."

The Scout Promise is:

The Scout Law:

Re-expression of the Scout Law

The Scout law is due to be re-expressed through a set of values once endorsed by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement:

Have Respect

Do What is Right

Be Positive

Venturers

The Venturer motto is: "Accept the Challenge!"

Venturers use the Scout Law and Promise.

Rovers

The objectives of the Rover sections are:

Rovers use the Scout Law and Promise.

Jamboree

The first New Zealand Jamboree, the New Zealand Exhibition Jamboree was held in Dunedin in the years 1925-6. An estimated 200 people attended. The next was held in Auckland in 1958-9. Since then they have been held every three years. The 20th New Zealand Jamboree was held from 2013-14 in Fielding, and the 21st New Zealand Jamboree will be held at Renwick Sports Ground, Marlborough, from 29 December 2016 to 7 January 2017.

Venture

There have been 13 National Ventures in New Zealand. The 11th New Zealand Venture was held at Brookfield near Wellington from 1 to 11 January 2010, with Venture South 2013 being held at Riverton, Southland from 5 to 14 January 2013. The 13th National Venture (Inferno 2016) was held in and around Rotorua in January 2016,.

Venture is held for Venturers approximately every three years.

Moot

As of 2016, there have been 74 National Rover Moots in New Zealand. Moots are normally held locally and nationally once a year which are organised and run by Rovers. The 75th National Rover Moot (Big Bang Moot) is being held in Helensville over Easter weekend 2017.

National schools

The following educational schools are run by the Scout Association:

Gang shows

Scouts New Zealand elsewhere

Non-sovereign territories with Scouting run by Scouts New Zealand include