Jamboree Will Be 10 Scouts Short

Scouting New Zealand CEO Chris Hooper has confirmed that while nearly 5,000 Scouts will be gathering in Christchurch on 28 December for New Zealand’s 18th international Jamboree, a group of ten will have to resign themselves to joining in over the internet.

Although a contingent of approximately 50 Scouts from Fiji will be welcomed as part of nearly 300 from the Asia-Pacific region, ten have been refused travel permits by the New Zealand government and are unable to attend.

“This is no reflection on any of the individual Scouts,” said Mr Hooper. “It is a matter entirely between the governments of New Zealand and Fiji and relates to the wider family connections which these particular Scouts have with the Fiji military. While we are naturally disappointed that these Scouts are unable to attend, in this instance the matter is completely out of our hands.”

“We are proud of the commitment to friendship, teamwork, community service and personal responsibility which all Scouts make. What we find is that invariably when Scouts get together, there is a lot of fun, a lot of activity and a lot of new friendships formed,” said Mr Hooper.

Those who will be at the Jamboree will be participating in the widest range of activities Scouting New Zealand has ever assembled for a single event. On-site activities at the Canterbury Agricultural Park will test Scouts’ ability over the especially created ‘Challenge Valley’ which includes a climbing wall, quad-bikes, water activities, rock carving and tasks of mental and physical skill. Up to 70 buses will be available each day to ferry Scouts to off-site activities such as rock climbing, survival skills and water challenges on Banks Peninsula.

For the 10-day duration, Scouts will be running their own radio station, producing and distributing their own newspaper and maintaining communications with Scouts throughout the world via a series of web-cams and the internet. Up to one million are expected to ‘look in’ during the Jamboree.

Scouting New Zealand will be welcoming Scouts from a large number of countries to the Jamboree, including Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Samoa and a group of Guides from the United Kingdom.

New Zealand’s Chief Scout, the Governor General, His Excellency Hon. Anand Satyanand, PCNZM will be attending New Year’s Day celebrations at the Jamboree and members of the public are warmly invited to the Open Day on 2 January.

ENDS

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