MAORI WARDENS CELEBRATE A TRAINING MILESTONE

A successful pilot programme to give Maori Wardens the opportunity to attain national qualifications has already achieved more than 100 graduates.

Maori Wardens from Te Tai Tokerau and Tamaki Makaurau graduate in Auckland

The wardens successfully completed the National Certificate in Security [Level 2] qualification as part of a scheme involving ETITO and Te Puni Kokiri’s voluntary Maori Wardens Project, which was set up in collaboration with the New Zealand police.  

Maori Affairs Minister, the Hon Dr Pita Sharples presented certificates to the first 24 of 105 graduates from Te Tai Tokerau and Tamaki Makaurau at a hui hosted at Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland.  Celebrations are also planned for Wanganui/Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Palmerston North and Gisborne. 

The pilot scheme was launched in 2009 to support the wardens and give them the chance to gain formal recognition and build on their knowledge and work experience.

“Some of the older Maori Wardens have been volunteering for 20 or 30 years and this is the first time they have had their work formally recognised by way of a national certificate,” says ETITO training manager Maori and Pasifika Stuart Lawrence. 

“The training has been a great success in terms of trainees completing their programmes.  Maori are community orientated and work better in a team so we changed the delivery of the material to give trainees a better understanding.”

Te Puni Kokiri’s Maori Wardens Project manager Te Rau Clarke says, “Training grows their sense of self worth and pride in what they do and says to the wider community that they have a meaningful qualification.”

As well as focusing on youth and safer communities, the volunteers can be seen at community events where they provide security, crowd control, traffic control and first aid services for the public.

Being voluntary hasn’t hindered the project’s ability to get people involved.  Of the 874 registered wardens across the country, there are 250 still to be trained.  More than 600 have been through the initial Maori Warden foundation training, which includes a first aid course and induction courses run in conjunction with the New Zealand Police and fire department. 

Te Rau says the Maori Warden Project is looking at getting another 80 wardens to undergo training with ETITO.

“People become Maori Wardens to give back to their community.  Their motivation is based around aroha te tangata, which is about caring for people.  It’s more than safety at events; it’s about supporting people and families.”

Many of the wardens volunteer between 10 to 30 hours a week and those that have a job give their time after work or on the weekend.