Cook Islands Boys Brigade celebrated their 90th anniversary on Saturday honouring nearly a century of service, discipline, and leadership development for young boys across the country.

The celebration kicked off with a vibrant parade and drill from the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) in Tupapa to the Takamoa Theological Hall, where formalities, a kaikai (buffet), and cake cutting took place.

Dignitaries including Boys Brigade president Bob Williams, Police Commissioner Teokotai Joseph, and other key leaders delivered heartfelt speeches acknowledging the past and future of the organisation.

“It’s the first time that we had a joint initiative with the Cook Islands Police, with New Zealand Defence and New Zealand Blue Light,” said Williams, who has long been involved with the movement.

“Saturday is the big day for us to celebrate 90 years anniversary since the Boys Brigade started in the Cook Islands on the 18th of February, 1935,” he said.

To mark the occasion, the brigade launched a weeklong flying camp that started on Monday, with up to 90 boys from across the Pa Enua and Rarotonga boys participating.

Williams emphasised the importance of the Boys Brigade’s founding principles: “The Boys Brigade is found on disciplining our boys and instilling some respect and hopefully they become good parents and good leaders for the Cook Islands.”

He said a number of Cook Islands former leaders have been through the Boys Brigade and they are hoping that the legacy will continue.

For Williams, the goal is not only about leadership but to also help steer boys away from negative influences.

“But most importantly, I hope is for the boys not to be tempted to do crimes and that but to be a mentor and also to influence our dear friends to be better boys than what some of the boys have been influenced to do.”

Groups travelled from Atiu, Mangaia, Aitutaki, and Mitiaro to take part in the celebration, alongside a strong turnout from Rarotonga.

Teremoana Windy, 55, the captain of the Atiu Boys Brigade, brought a team of 13 boys and two committee members to the celebration.

“I feel good to come together with the other companies in Rarotonga and I’m so proud of celebrating this 90th celebration,” he said.

“The importance is to encourage our young ones to put their contribution into the Boys Brigade’s interest. I think that’s the main important thing, to get into the right pathway for their life.”

Windy, who has served with brigades in both Mitiaro and Atiu since 2000, said, “I just want to invite our boys to come and join the Boys Brigade leading up to the 100 years and hopefully, we will make it through these 100 years of celebration in the future?”

For older members like Tutavaka Tutai, 83, an old member of the Avarua boy’s brigade, the celebration was deeply personal.

“The celebration is memory in my heart for Jesus Christ. The main thing for our uniform is to follow Jesus,” he said.

“At our number seven company back in the days, we go in homes and look for the kids to join us in wearing the uniform and today I came back to thank the organisation for the 90th anniversary of the Boys Brigade. May God bless.”

“It’s very inspiring and at the same time, really great to see the Boys Brigade develop over the years and as one of the old members, I am very proud to see the young ones step up.”