Māori Wardens

Māori Wardens are over 1000[1] volunteers providing support, security, traffic and crowd control and first aid, under the Māori Community Development Act 1962.[2] Their main powers under the Act relate to alcohol, with the ability to warn a licensee to stop serving liquor to a Māori,[3] order any Māori to leave a hotel,[4] seize liquor at a Māori function,[5] or take car keys.[6]

Government accepted rūnanga in 1861 to provide for local self-government.[7] Māori wardens were then appointed on their recommendation.[8] However, after the Invasion of the Waikato, government involvement declined,[7] so it was not until the Māori Social and Economic Advancement Act 1945 that Tribal Executives got power to nominate and control wardens.[1] Section 7 of the 1962 Act[9] gave this role to District Māori Councils.[1]

Each rohe (Tāmaki Makaurau & Te Tai Tokerau; Waikato Tainui; Wellington, Kāpiti, Horowhenua & Manawatū; Whanganui, Taranaki, Rangitikei & Ruapehu; Te Tairāwhiti, Heretaunga & Wairarapa and Te Waipounamu)[1] has a Regional Co-ordinator, who builds relationships with local agencies and groups to promote Māori Wardens' services.[2]