The Waikato’s only sea scout group has received Royal New Zealand Navy recognition.
Kirikiriroa & St Peter’s Scout Group, which trains and sails Scout Standard Cutters and Sunbursts on lakes Karāpiro, Ngā Roto, Rotoroa, and Taupo, received naval recognition after meeting the highest standards of scouting and seamanship.
The navy recognition standards reflect those expected of the Sea Cadet Forces and naval training establishments and is only awarded to the top 15 scout groups in the country.
The group was formed in 2022 when Kirikiriroa Scout Group’s meeting place was demolished to make way for emergency housing, leading it to partner with St Peter’s Sea Scout Group. Since then, it has become one of the largest and fastest growing groups in the country.
“Naval recognition is an amazing achievement, especially as the majority of the group had little to no seamanship experience when the two groups partnered in 2022,” said Chris Gardner, a group leader of Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s Scout Group and a journalist working for The News.
“Our youth have worked very hard to improve their boating, paddling, water safety and complementary emergency skills over that time.”