Māori Wardens want more recognition

10:39 am on 6 February 2019

Māori Wardens are calling for better recognition for the work they do and more assistance from the government.

There are up to 800 wardens throughout the country, and some met Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Waitangi yesterday.

A review is underway on the changing roles of the wardens and how they can be supported.

The Māori wardens project manager from Te Puna Kokiri, Te Rau Clarke, said nothing had changed since the last review in 1962.

"And they carry out roles that support other more recognised organisations like the New Zealand Police, like drug and alcohol abuse, suicide prevention. So it's wide ranging and they go unnoticed for that and unrecognised for that, taken for granted, for many of them they're doing work that other people are being paid for."

Te Rau Clarke said the government was likely to start making decisions on the future of Māori Wardens in June.