“Aroha ki te tangata / For the love of the people”
There are approximately 700 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
- Modernising Māori Wardens
- News and Stories
- Publications
- Māori Wardens Regional Coordinators
- 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 700 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)
Modernising Māori Wardens
During the 1950s and 60s the role of Māori Wardens was to manage the behaviour of Māori under the influence of alcohol. Over the years the role of Māori Wardens has evolved to meet the changing needs of whānau and communities to include 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.
Click here for more information.
News and Stories
The latest news and events for Māori Wardens are listed below.
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
Jayd Hepi-August (Ngati Tuwharetoa) is the acting regional co-ordinator for the Christchurch and Nelson regional centres. Her rohe spans the entire Te Waipounamu and Te Tau Ihu Districts.
She has taken on an amazing opportunity to work directly with and alongside Māori Wardens in the South Island. Jayd is keen to build and strengthen relationships with Māori Warden Groups, and supporting agencies, who continue to provide a valuable service in keeping Communities safe.
Telephone: 027 291 1358 | Email: hepij@tpk.govt.nz.
Ngā Kaupapa me ngā Pānui
Kua rārangi mai ngā kaupapa me ngā pānui ki raro iho nei.
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COVID-19 accelerates training and processes for Māori wardens
Wharekāhika is a small coastal township between Potaka and Te Araroa along State Highway 35 on the East Coast. Like many other rural communities around Aotearoa during lockdown, the Wharekāhika community were determined to protect their whānau, especially the vulnerable like kaumātua and pēpi, from the coronavirus by setting up checkpoints to stop the spread of the virus into their township.
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As long as people keeping ringing us up, we’ll keep on going
These are the words of Teone Te Rangi (Rongomaiwahine) who has been working with his team of 12 from the Flaxmere Māori Wardens over the past six weeks to assist their region respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Ahuriri Māori Wardens providing support to their region
As part of a collaborative effort between Te Kupenga Hauora (NGO), Te Tai Whenua o Whanganui o Rotu, Takitumu Seafoods, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Ltd the Ahuriri Māori Wardens have been out in the community supporting local whānau in the region.
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Tairāwhiti Māori Wardens support during Covid-19 pandemic
Like most Māori Wardens across the motu, Tairāwhiti mobilised together to see what support they could provide during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Helping kaumātua in need
Māori Wardens are often associated with manaaki and have been a strong presence amongst our communities right across Aotearoa New Zealand.
