Scouts Aotearoa

Scouts Aotearoa, known internationally as Scouts Aotearoa New Zealand is a trading name of The Scout Association of New Zealand, the national Scouting association in New Zealand and an affiliate of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) since 1953.

The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom formed a branch in New Zealand and set about re-organizing scouting according to its Policy, Organization 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), 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.

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. The Scout Law was rewritten, and reduced to three key tenets in 2015. An official Māori language translation was also created.

Link to Orewa Sea Scouts page on the Scouts Aotearoa website.