Sea Scouts New Zealand

infobox WorldScouting

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caption =
name = Sea Scouting
headquarters =
country = New Zealand
f-date = 1908
founder = Warington Baden-Powell
members =
chiefscouttitle =
chiefscout =

Sea Scouts New Zealand are part of Scouting New Zealand. There are around 900 Sea Scouts in New Zealand in 60 troops around the country.

The New Zealand Sea Scouts use a 17 ft cutter as their principle boat - the concept of having a specific boat for Sea Scouts in New Zealand originated in 1944. The first two boats of this class were ready for the 1st National Dominion Regatta in 1945. The original boats were clinker built and used Kauri as the main timber. The rig was a gunter designed so that the all the spars could be stowed inside the boat for towing. These wooden cutters are still in use today including the first built. They continued to be built in the original manner until the early 1970's, around 140 were built over this period. In the late 1960s and early 1970 fibreglass versions of the cutters began to be produced, the hull being identical in shape and size but the gunter rig was replaced with a Bermudan design using aluminium mast and boom. These boats are still in production and around 90 have been built.

National regattas

Groups

Hawke Sea Scouts

Hawke Sea Scouts, are located on the edge of the Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, has a long history of being an important part of the local community. The name Hawke came from the English Hawke family; Lord Edward Hawke was Lord of the Admiralty and the family crest was a hawk with a fleur-de-lys on its chest. Lord Hawke's connection with New Zealand is that he chose Captain Cook to lead the exploratory voyages in the pacific. One of his descendants also lead an early cricket tour by Lord Hawke's XI who "played across the dominion". Lord Hawke consented to the use of the crest and family motto and also became patron.

In January 1928, the boat shed at the foot of Jervois Road became the headquarters of Hawke Sea Scouts founded by Mr. A.J. Veart, who continued in the role of "skipper" for the next 20 years. A hall was later built over the top of the old boat shed. In November 1948, the first 3 scout cutters were launched. Hugh J. Eaton JP became skipper in December 1949 and later a Sea Scout Commissioner. In 1950 the scout den was extended. On July 21, 1952, a disastrous fire swept the den with almost total loss of building and gear. Rebuilding commenced immediately. The new and current scout den was opened on October 17, 1953 by Sir John Allum, who was the incumbent Mayor of Auckland.