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

 

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Māori Wardens Regional Coordinators

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, Te Tai Tokerau, Waikato-Tainui, Te Tairāwhiti, Te Waipounamu and Chatham Islands

Hoana Leef (Ngā Puhi) is the regional co-ordinator for Te Taitokerau – Tāmaki Makaurau regions. Her region extends from the tip of the North Island – Te Hiku o te Ika and expands to below 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. 

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.

Wellington, Kāpiti, Horowhenua, Manawatū, Heretaunga and Wairarapa

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.

Diana is currently seconded externally to the Te Piringa Manatōpū Māori Wardens.

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.

Wayne is currently seconded externally to the Volcanic Interior Plateau Māori Wardens.

Telephone: 027 415 9651 Email: seelw@tpk.govt.nz .

Māori Warden Videos

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.

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