| The Scout Association of New Zealand, Sea Scouts | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| F-Date: | 1923 |
| Founder: | The Boy Scouts Association (of the United Kingdom) |
| Website: | http://www.scouts.org.nz/ABOUTUS/SeaScouts.aspx |
The Scout Association of New Zealand's Sea Scouts are Scout Groups specialising in water-based activities. In 2017, there were around 900 Sea Scouts in New Zealand in 53 troops around the country.[1]
The New Zealand Sea Scouts use a 17-foot cutter as their principal boat – the concept of having a specific boat for Sea Scouts in New Zealand originated in 1944. The first two boats of this class were ready for the 1st National Dominion Regatta in 1945. The original boats were clinker built and used Kauri as the main timber. The rig was a gunter designed so that all the spars could be stowed inside the boat for towing. These wooden cutters are still in use today including the first built. They continued to be built in the original manner until the early 1970s; around 140 were built over this period. In the late 1960s and early 1970, fibreglass versions of the cutters began to be produced, the hull being identical in shape and size but the gunter rig was replaced with a Bermudan design using aluminium mast and boom. These boats are still in production and around 90 have been built.[2]
National Sea Scout regattas take place every three years. The activities and competitions typically run for 9–10 days.[3] The Premier Award is the Jellicoe Trident which was present in 1924 by the Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount Jellicoe .[4] [5] He was the second Governor General of New Zealand.
The 1st Waiheke Sea Scouts is a group affiliated to the New Zealand Scouts Association. The Waiheke Sea Scouts group has several sections including; Keas (ages 6–8), Cubs (ages 8–11), Scouts (ages 11–14) and Venturers (ages 14–18). The younger members of the troop tend to focus on camping, indoor activities, bush walks and beach visits, while the older groups tend more to the sailing and water sports activities.
The Waiheke Sea Scouts Den is based on the shores of Putiki Bay, Ostend, Waiheke Island. This group was once one of the largest groups in the Auckland Region over the period 1960–1976. When scouting almost died at the turn of the twentieth century, the run-down, partially derelict scout hall in its idyllic waterfront location was to be found with smashed windows and litter, missing gear and old scout cutters. From 2005, Skipper and scout master Graham Crooks, and Long-Term scouting NZ member and Upper North island regional manager Ian Nicolson, worked on renovating the hall and scout cutters.
Consequent success followed and today the group is an ever-expanding enthusiastic representation of the Waiheke community in National Scouting and has around 60+ members. As is the nature of voluntary organisations, the Leaders, parents and members frequently change, but the pack and committee remain committed to challenging young Waihetians (Waiheke Islanders) to be active, extraordinary, thoughtful and adventurous.[17]
The Kotuku Sea Scout Group is based in Levin, New Zealand, in the Horowhenua. The Group consists of a Kea, Cub, Scout Troop and Venturers. Training waters are those of Lake Horowhenua, a drive across town but the troop also visits the estuary at Foxton Beach, locations over the Ohau river, Forest Lakes, and competes in the regattas of the Lower North Island Sea Scouts.[18] The group meets on Mondays except for the scouts and adventures who meet on Thursday
Several members of the group have made a micronation called "Finnlandian goverment"[19] They are at war with Saint James Sea Scouts group[20]
The Britannia Sea Scouts is based in Wellington, New Zealand. They have a Kea, Cub, Scout and Venturer troop. They sail and row in Evans Bay, Wellington. This troop was created in 1927 and is the only Sea Scout troop in New Zealand to have a pennant on their scarf.[21]
The Saint James Sea Scouts are based at the Hikoikoi Reserve at the Hutt River mouth, Petone, Lower Hutt. New Zealand. The group began in 1938 and became Sea Scouts in 1955. The first boat shed was built from old car cases on the former Petone tip. (The Group's nickname of River Rats in part stems from the many rats on the site, but chiefly it comes from a comment of the National Water Advisor (1973) Sandy Bell when presenting the Jellicoe Trident to the Group "The sewer rats have cleaned out all the family silver".)[22] This area has since been converted into a reserve by the Hutt City Council and in 1991 the administration building of Te Omanga Hospice (known as Viard House in the past) was purchased and moved onto a site, just behind the old boat shed, which was demolished. The new Building provided a hall, storage and other rooms upstairs, and a boat deck downstairs. The group has a Kea Club, a Cub Pack, a Scout Troop and a Venturer Unit. The photo shows Scouts returning after a Sunday afternoon sail.
See main article: Hawke Scout Hall. The Hawke Sea Scouts is located on the edge of Coxs Bay, which is between the suburbs of Herne Bay and Westmere in Auckland, New Zealand. They have a Kea, Cub, Scout and Venturer troop.[23] The Hawke Sea Scout Hall was first established in January 1928. The Hawke Sea Scout Hall, locally called "The Ship," was a boat shed erected at the foot of Jervois Road on a reserve vested by special legislation.[24] [25] As the group grew in size a hall was built over the top of the old boat shed in 1943.[26] On 21 July 1952 a fire swept through the building. In addition to the almost total loss of the building, the White Ensign flown by the NZ cruiser HMNZS Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate and at the Surrender of Japan at the end of World War II was lost in the fire.[27] The new and current building was opened on Saturday 17 October 1953 by Sir John Allum.