Maori warden numbers about to rise

The new crop of soon-to-be-warranted Maori wardens get familiar with the van that has just been...
The new crop of soon-to-be-warranted Maori wardens get familiar with the van that has just been provided for their use by New Zealand Police. They are (back row from left) Jesse-Joe Clark, Natalie Karaitiana, Te Hau Moses, (front row from left) Anne...

Dunedin is receiving a boost in Maori wardens following a major drive to rejuvenate the wardens' programme. Dan Hutchinson talks to some of those involved to find out how they plan to make a difference in the city. 

Dunedin will soon have a group of more than 20 Maori wardens taking turns at patrolling the streets at night and during big events.

The new push for Maori wardens is being driven by Te Runanga o Otakou, through its subsidiary A3 Kaitiaki (A3K) and supported by Otago Police - including the provision of a van last week.

A3K operations manager Michelle Taiaroa-McDonald said the enthusiasm of the new volunteers was ''magnificent''.

She said the wardens' programme had tapered off a lot over the past 20 years and many young people did not even know what a Maori warden was.

''When I was a teenager, Maori wardens were on the street. When we saw them walking down Stuart St, we were off like robber's dogs because they were the ones who knew who your mother was or your father.''

New recruit Paritai Samuel said she was inspired to become a warden because her father, Ben Samuels, had been one in the 1980s and 1990s.

''After a night of warden rounds there were often extra rangatahi [youth] at the breakfast table the next morning.

''I remember watching him put his uniform on and having that sense of pride about what he was doing. The Maori warden presence was very strong. They were highly regarded and an integral part of the Maori community in Dunedin.''

Iwi Pacific Liaison officer Coastal Otago area Senior Constable Toni Wall said the Maori wardens would be mobile and able to travel around the district to places such as Invercargill and Central Otago to help out at big events.

People could expect to see them in the Octagon on weekends, at big sporting events and at other special events such as large tangis, and large organised student parties.

A group of eight new Maori wardens is in the final stages of training with another 10-15 about to start theirs.

Mrs Taiaroa-McDonald said the wardens were fully trained volunteers who worked closely with police. They were provided with radios to stay in contact with nearby police.

She said their role was to support the police's ''prevention first'' policy and by using korero (talking) to prevent problems, removing people from bad situations and encouraging them to go home.

''It is all about manaaki - how we take care of our people.''

- by Dan Hutchinson 

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