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