“Aroha ki te tangata / For the love of the people”
There are approximately 900 Māori Wardens who play an intrinsic role in improving the wellbeing of whānau and our communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Puni Kōkiri in partnership with NZ Police provides practical support to Māori Wardens including delivering training programmes and providing resources (e.g. vehicles, uniforms and equipment).
- About Māori Wardens
- Publications
- Māori Wardens Regional Coordinators
- Modernising Māori Wardens
- Events and updates
About Māori Wardens
Māori Wardens are an intrinsic part of our communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. They have been supporting whānau for over 150 years at a grassroots level and have well-established relationships that enable them to work closely with whānau, Māori organisations, community groups and government agencies.
Māori Wardens are not police, but they have legal responsibilities under the Māori Community Development Act 1962. Today there are approximately 900 Māori Wardens who volunteer their time to supporting others in our communities.
The strength of Māori Warden’s is their intimate knowledge of, and close connection to their local communities. The guiding principles of a Māori Warden is respect, awhi, aroha, and whānaungatanga. The values are:
- Rangimarie (Peace)
- Manaaki (Kindness)
- Kōrero (Talking)
- Whakaiti (Humility)
- Tautoko (Support)
- Pono (Honesty)
Publications
Read more publications about Māori Wardens
Māori Wardens Regional Coordinators
Each rohe (seven) across the country has a Regional Co-ordinator. The purpose of the regional co-ordinator is to build relationships with local agencies and community groups in order to promote the services provided by Māori Wardens.
Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau
Hoana Parangi (Ngā Puhi) is the regional co-ordinator for Te Taitokerau – Tāmaki Makaurau regions. Her region extends from the Bombay Hills right to the tip of the North Island – Te Hiku o Te Ika.
Based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Hoana believes in supporting wardens with various kaupapa and providing direction and guidance when needed. This role has given her the opportunity to service the needs of Māori Wardens who work alongside their respective communities including whānau, hapū, and iwi.
Telephone: 027 598 9871 or 09 571 2966 Email: parho@tpk.govt.nz.
Waikato Tainui
Pareaute Panapa-Solomon (Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) is the regional co-ordinator for the Waikato – Tainui region. Her region extends from the Bombay Hills and Port Waikato in the north, along the western coastline south to Mōkau, eastward embracing the King Country, through to the Kaimai Ranges, the Hauraki plains and returning northwards to the Coromandel Peninsula
Pareaute utilises her role as regional co-ordinator to broker strong relationships with whānau, hapū, marae and organisations that contribute to the capacity and capability of the wardens in her region. A critical component of the work in the Waikato-Tainui region is the kaupapa of the Kiingitanga – this kaupapa is unique to her region.
Telephone: 027 465 5843 or 09 571 2966 Email: panap@tpk.govt.nz.
Wellington, Kāpiti, Horowhenua and Manawatū
Diana Kawana (Ngā Wairiki) is the regional co-ordinator for the Wellington regional centre covering Manawatū, Horowhenua, Kāpiti and Wellington. She is based in Palmerston North.
As regional co-ordinator, Diana believes that this role has given her an opportunity to provide valuable resources that actively services the needs of Māori Wardens who work alongside whānau, hapū and iwi in their the wider communities.
Telephone: 027 415 9837 Email: kawad@tpk.govt.nz.
Whanganui, Taranaki, Rangitikei and Ruapehu
Wayne Seeley (Ngāpuhi) is the regional co-ordinator for the Whanganui regional centre covering the Whanganui, Taranaki, Rangitikei and Ruapehu districts in additional to this he covers the Waiariki, Whakatāne and Tauranga districts. Wayne has been a Māori Warden for 22 years and has worked closely with the District Māori Council.
He is pleased to be able to work with Māori Wardens in his region as he wants to see the work that Māori Wardens do in their communities more valued. He believes that giving the wardens the right tools is pinnacle to achieving this.
Telephone: 027 415 9651 Email: seelw@tpk.govt.nz .
Te Tairāwhiti, Heretaunga and Wairarapa
Robert Whaitiri (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kahungunu) is the regional co-ordinator for the Gisborne and Hastings regional centres covering Te Tairāwhiti, Heretaunga (Hawkes Bay) and the Wairarapa.
Through his role Robert wants to help unite the various associations to move forward together. He believes that the current structure sees too many associations competing for the same jobs and for the same pool of pūtea.
There is strength in numbers and if we can all move forward together and become self-sustaining and business orientated including contracting for services, Māori Wardens would be in a much better position to deliver a top quality service.
Telephone: 027 296 9654 Email: whair@tpk.govt.nz.
Te Waipounamu and Te Tau Ihu
Aaron Munro (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Porou) is the regional co-ordinator for the Christchurch and Nelson regions. His rohe covers the entire Te Tau Ihu and Te Waipounamu Districts.
Aaron comes with a background in policy, community relationships, and communications. He looks forward to working closely with the Māori Warden Groups in the South Island.
Telephone: 027 263 6951 | Email: munra@tpk.govt.nz.
Modernising Māori Wardens
In July 2019, more than 450 Māori Wardens from across 16 districts gathered at the National Māori Wardens Conference at Tūrangawaewae Marae to embark on a way forward.
The roles, functions and powers of the Māori Wardens are provided for in the Māori Community Development Act 1962 which is administered by the Māori Development Minister.
Over the years the initial role of the Māori Wardens has broadened and there are now over 900 Māori Warden volunteers across the nation supporting the homeless, encouraging rangatahi, providing community reassurance, facilitating hui between whānau and schools, providing event management and security, and facilitating youth at risk programmes.
Minister for Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta is passionate about ensuring the role Māori Wardens play in New Zealand communities’ remains strong, valuable and relevant. It is timely to consider what the future for the Māori Wardens could look like.
A Working Group, representing each Māori Wardens district, has been elected to oversee the development of some key objectives. For more information about the working group click here.
Events and Updates
Latest events and updates for this section are listed below.
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Tāmaki Māori Wardens providing relief
Prolonged dry weather in the Auckland region is putting pressure on water supplies for rural residents, in response to this need the Auckland City Council have set-up water relief centres across the rural districts.
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Prime Minister meets with Māori Wardens
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern along with other ministerial colleagues met with the Māori Wardens a day before Waitangi at their annual hui.
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Rotorua Māori Wardens Community Trust share why they do the job
Everyone's got an uncle and aunty in the Rotorua Māori Wardens - whether you're a backpacker in town, a businessman, or before the courts. While they may fulfil the role of the police and security, they are one of the most selfless community organisations across the motu doing it for "Aroha ki te tangata - For the love of the people".
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A tradition of responsibility
Māori Wardens have supported whānau at a grassroots level since the late 1800s. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters calls them "a huge asset to New Zealand's social cohesion".
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Keeping it cool under pressure
Often a calm reassuring word from a respected person is all it takes to diffuse a situation that has the potential to get out of hand says one of the training stalwarts of the Tāmaki ki te Tonga Māori Wardens – she knows she’s been doing this for over 40 years.
