Scouts NZ disavows Glucina gossip site

Social media users who yesterday clicked on the twitter hash tag #scout to see what other tweeters were saying about Rachel Glucina’s new gossip website were amused to observe the majority of the tweets collected under that label involved pictures of young people involved in idylls inspired by the writings of Lord Baden Powell.

One outfit that hasn’t found the confusion amusing, however, is Scouts New Zealand, which has posted the following on its website and Facebook page:

“As a result of enquiries received, SCOUTS New Zealand would like to advise our 21,000 active members, their families and all other persons associated with SCOUTS New Zealand, that the website scout.co.nz is not connected, associated, nor authorised in any way with our positive youth empowerment organisation. We wish to distance ourselves and our strong, established brand from that site; any perceived links between SCOUTS New Zealand and it are not accurate and should not be pursued.  We are working to ensure that SCOUTS New Zealand and our members are not negatively affected or impacted by that site. We remind our members of our values and ask that no public comments be made – we are confident the situation is in hand and will keep you updated as required. Thank you.”

Reportedly, officials from the youth association approached MediaWorks last week over their concerns about the similarity in names after a publicity campaign for Ms Glucina’s joint-venture with the media company was launched.

Its concerns apparently having been disregarded, the organisation is understood to be investigating whether the gossip site is in breach of the Scout Association of New Zealand Amendment Act, which includes the following clause:

Except with the consent of the Governor-General in Council and subject to the provisions of this section, no association of persons, whether incorporated or not, shall exercise the functions for which it is formed under the name “Scout Association” or under a name that contains those words or the words “Scout” or “Boy Scout”.

A spokesman for the association has noted the "sex, scandal and gossip” focus of Ms Glucina’s site “obviously doesn't align with our values."

Those values, as set out in the association’s literature, are:

Have Respect   

• For yourself and others
• For the environment

Do What is Right             

• Be trustworthy and tolerant
• Have integrity

Be Positive        

• Accept challenges with courage
• Be a friend to all

Whether the association has any grounds to mount a legal challenge against the joint venture between Ms Glucina and MediaWorks, the similarity between the respective brands has already inspired a social media meme that conflates the two:

I see #Scout even has its own badges for employees. pic.twitter.com/nErpdWIQpV

– Damian Christie (@damianchristie) September 15, 2015

@Dovil @damianchristie What Glucina thinks she is versus what she actually is. pic.twitter.com/tQFzuF8Z6z

– Grace (@missgracenz) September 15, 2015

@CnrJoe It's not so much about cutting knots, it's more about severing ties with humanity.

— Damian Christie (@damianchristie) September 15, 2015

Confused re: SCOUT vs SCOUTS? Take our handy quiz to see if you can separate the two http://t.co/Eyo4w3PCjn pic.twitter.com/J8phTf4m7v

— The Spinoff (@TheSpinoffTV) September 15, 2015