Cook Islands

Promise:

Koreromotu a te Guide

Te taputou nei au e ka rave au ma te maroiroi tikai.
I te atingaanga iaku ki te Atua
Ma te rave i te akaueanga a te Ariki Vaine Ngateitei, toku Basileia
Ma te akono i te au ture a te Guide.

Girl Guide Promise (English Translation)

I Promise on my honour that I will do my best;
To do my duty to God
To serve the Queen and my country and to help other people, and
To keep the Guide Law.

Law:

Guide Law

1 E tu tiratiratu e te irinaki ia to te Guide.

2 E turanga tauturu to te Guide.

3 E tu maru e te akono to te Guide.

4 E tu oaoa to te Guide e te taeake tikai no tona au oa Guide.

5 Kia takinga meitaki te Guide i te au manu aaere e te au apinga natura.

6 Ka kauraro te Guide i te au akaueanga ravarai.

7 E tu toa ma te mata katakata to te Guide i te au tuatau manamanata.

8 Ka taangaanga meitaki te Guide i tona au taime.

9 Ka akono te Guide i tona uaorai apinga e pera to tetai ke.

10 Kia akatano te Guide i tona uaorai manako, tana ka tuatua e tana ka rave.

Girl Guide Law (English Translation)

1 A Guide is loyal and can be trusted.

2 A Guide is helpful.

3 A Guide is polite and considerate.

4 A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides.

5 A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things.

6 A Guide is obedient.

7 A Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties.

8 A Guide makes use of her time.

9 A Guide takes care of her own possessions and those of other people.

10 A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does.

Motto:

Girl Guide Motto - Be Prepared

Brownie Motto - Lend a Hand

Age groups:

Ranger 15-20

Guide 11-15

Brownie 7-11

Pepe 3-6

Development of the movement:

1928 marked the beginning of Guiding in the Cook Islands. The first Guide company opened in the capital, Avarua, on the island of Rarotonga, and the Islands were registered as a province of the Girl Guides Association New Zealand (Inc). Ranger Patrols were set up in 1935 and the first Brownie pack was registered in 1937.

The first outer island company was started in Aitutaki in 1948. The 1950s were an era of growth with the foundation of new companies both on Rarotonga and the outer islands. The Cook Islands became a Branch Association of the Girl Guides Association (New Zealand), membership increased, and leaders attended overseas training and other events. UNESCO funded a full-time trainer from 1956 to 1958. With good administration and a more active programme, Guiding became fully accepted by the community and supported by the churches.

In 1986 the Association fulfilled a long-standing ambition by obtaining its own headquarters. Membership continued to grow and in 1992 a Deed of Transfer was signed making the Branch Association of the Cook Islands independent of the Girl Guides Association New Zealand (Inc).

Programme:

The programme used is one developed by the Girl Guides Association New Zealand, for all Pacific Island Associations. It is designed to give girls confidence, training in reliability, responsibility and practical skills, and developed according to the needs of each age group. Based on an eight-point programme, it gives girls opportunities to develop physical fitness, the mind, out-of-doors enjoyment, homecraft skills, service to others, human relations, creativity and character. 

Relationship to society:

The Association participates in a wide variety of service projects and raises funds to support emergency relief demands. In 1949, a sub-committee of the Cook Islands Girl Guides Movement, known as the Welfare Committee, was formed. This Committee was responsible for the arranging of Christmas gifts and the visiting of hospital patients. In 1953 the activities of the Committee increased and it was necessary to function in its own entity and to be known as the Hospital Comfort.

Communication and Co-operation

Many Guides participate in major events organized by Girl Guides Association New Zealand (Inc). Even though the Association was not yet a member of the Asia Pacific Region in 1992, it hosted a Regional Workshop on Administration for Member Organizations in the Pacific Islands, co-ordinated by the Girl Guides Association New Zealand (Inc).

The Association is held in high esteem by all in authority. The general public are very aware of the Girl Guides and have expressed their support. The Association has close links with various religious bodies, and combined church parades are held with other youth organizations. Guides also participate in national events such as Independence Day celebrations, South Pacific festivals, Parliament openings and big church conferences and sports tournaments.

The Cook Islands Girl Guides Association is affiliated to the Church organizations, the Cook Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations and the Cook Islands National Council of Women.

The Association does not have publications of its own but uses those prepared for the Islands by New Zealand. The Association is planning to produce a bi-monthly newsletter, and to revise the Brownie and Girl Guide handbooks with the assistance of the WAGGGS Field Executive Trainer.

Training:

In the late 1980s the Cook Islands introduced a special Pacific Leadership Scheme in the company of other Pacific Island Associations. Part one leads to a warrant, and part two offers more advanced individual training. The Training Adviser and a team of qualified trainers meet regularly to plan trainings and develop an annual training calendar. Leaders of all branches have trainings together on topics of common interest and separate sessions are held for specific branch matters.

In 1993 the committee introduced Mobile Training sessions to help new leaders in the companies with the planning and running of their weekly meetings until the leaders are confident enough to work on their own. This was introduced especially for new, young and untrained Leaders who have joined the Movement without any knowledge of Guiding, but who are willing to care for the girls and who are very much interested in the activities that the Guiding Movement offers.  There are 23 Guide companies in the Cook Islands. Trainings are held on Rarotonga to prepare for travel to the Outer Islands in the Southern Group and the Northern Group every two years.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities

Camping and adventurous activities are the most popular aspect of Guiding, and annual camps are always well attended. The annual camp is held in the outer islands. Everyone looks forward to attending the camp, as most of the girls from Rarotonga have never been to any of the outer islands. The camp gives them an idea of the different ways of life that the people are living within the Cook Islands.