Boost in funding for Māori Wardens

We are delighted Māori Wardens are getting a funding boost from government in the May 2025 budget.

This is fantastic recognition for wardens.  Our wardens work incredibly hard.  They work all kinds of hours in all kinds of weather – as volunteers.  

Our wardens walk the trouble spots of our big cities.  We keep an eye on our rangatahi; we work with whānau; we look out for the homeless.  We are often out after dark on patrol sometimes until the wee hours of the morning.

Our wardens play a key role looking after our rural communities and kainga. They are usually first on the ground during emergencies – during earthquakes, cyclones and flooding events. We are experienced, well-trained i and we have local knowledge of our communities. We are able to reach those most in need.

We help with day to day activities as well as providing our crowd management expertise at national events – Waitangi, Rātana, Koroneihana, the Hikoi for example. We help keep people safe at major events.

This additional funding will allow us to recruit more Māori Wardens, develop our services for rangatahi and whānau, and increase our ability to help during flooding and other natural disasters.   

This funding helps us be true to our guiding principle: Aroha ki te tangata – for the love of the people.

We say thank you to all Māori Wardens across Aotearoa for their incredible mahi.