Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group received the Royal New Zealand Navy Recognition Pennant at Scouts Aotearoa Northland Zone Regatta at Kai Iwi Lakes on Saturday.
Senior patrol leader Hamish Smith, 14, and Venturer Kaylee Rossbotham, 16, received the pennant on behalf of the group at the regatta’s opening ceremony from Scouts Aotearoa Upper North Island Territory regional water activities advisor Andrew Stevens.
Senior patrol leader Hamish Smith, 14, and Venturer Kaylee Rossbotham, 16, received the pennant on behalf of the group at the regatta’s opening ceremony from Scouts Aotearoa Upper North Island Territory regional water activities advisor Andrew Stevens.
The Waikato’s only sea scout group, which kayaks, rows and sails on lakes Karāpiro, Ngā Roto, Rotoroa, and Taupo, was one of 15 groups nationally to achieve naval recognition in January after meeting the highest standards of scouting and seamanship.
Youth members work on boating, paddling and water safety adventure skills, supported by six kaiārahi (leaders) who have earned a selection of Scouts Aotearoa water charge certificates in the disciplines of power boating, rowing and sailing.
The pennant was hoisted up the group’s campsite flagpole at Kai Iwi Lakes after the presentation and will fly at group headquarters in St Peter’s Park, Hamilton.
Scouts Aotearoa Waikato Zone water activities advisor Dave Smith said while it was the third year the group had attended the Northland event, many of the participants were new to boating in the last term.
The group also came second in the Sunburst class, having come third in the Junior Sunburst category.
Kaiārahi Matt Kemp helmed a cutter in the open cutter class and placed third and the group also came second in the regatta’s camping standards competition.
Kirikiriroa & St. Peter’s Scout Group, formed as a partnership between Kirikiriroa Scout Group and St. Peter’s Sea Scout Group in February 2022 after Kirikiriroa’s hall was demolished, has become one of the country’s largest and fastest growing scout groups.
The Scouts Aotearoa Royal New Zealand Navy Recognition Pennant flies at Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group campsite at Kai Iwi Lakes.
