Scouts Wood Badge Beads Pounamu

This set of Wood Badge beads was a special commission, carved from Kawakawa Pounamu. Traditionally, Wood Badge beads are made from wood and awarded to Scout leaders who complete advanced leadership training. The tradition traces back to 1919, when Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout Movement, began awarding wooden beads as a symbol of leadership and service, inspired by a necklace he acquired in South Africa from a Zulu chief.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, these beads hold that same meaning, but having them carved from Pounamu brings added depth. Pounamu is a taonga of this land, deeply valued in Māori culture for its strength, beauty, and spiritual significance. Using Pounamu for these beads acknowledges not only the commitment and growth of the leader receiving them, but also connects the kaupapa of Scouting with the whenua of Aotearoa.

The Kawakawa stone used in this set is a rich, deep green—symbolic of growth, service, and the endurance required of good leadership. These beads honour the history of Scouting while grounding them in the unique cultural landscape of New Zealand. They are a way to recognise the global tradition and local context together, forging a taonga that truly reflects both the journey and the place of the person who has earned them.