Māori Wardens show mahi aroha in many places and spaces
WAITANGI- NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS
Maryann Vogt leads Māori Warden operations at Waitangi’s Whare Rūnanga each year. A Warden since 1984, Maryann has been a constant presence at Waitangi Day events, where Wardens uphold safety amidst gatherings of Ministers, government officials, protesters, and the public.
Maryann runs a team of thirty-five Māori Wardens in shifts. (Another 60 wardens manage crowds and cars at other popular Waitangi events.
Every Māori Warden you see on the frontline is a volunteer. They work long shifts, sleep in campground bunks, and rise at 3 a.m. to ensure they’re on-site early—navigating infamous Waitangi traffic.
Maryann’s familiar presence is both reassuring and respected and her steadfast commitment to the safety of all attendees embodies the spirit of service that defines Māori Wardens. Maryann and her team work seamlessly with other regional Wardens and NZ Police to provide a calm, grounded presence, all as volunteers.
WAIROA FLOODING AND AFTERMATH
In June 2024, Wairoa was devastated by severe flooding that displaced hundreds and left many more in hardship and distress. The community was still recovering from the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle the previous year.
In response, 24 dedicated Māori Wardens mobilised and were on the ground immediately, delivering household support, welfare transport, and conducting 24/7 security patrols for over a month—providing reassurance and preventing looting. Their continued daytime patrols extended for another fortnight, ensuring ongoing safety and calm.
Welcomed with open arms, Māori Wardens reached out to whānau who might otherwise not seek help. They collaborated closely with marae, hapū, and iwi, reinforcing the importance of Māori-led resilience efforts in times of crisis.
AUCKLAND CITY
Helping the homeless and distributing rescued food
In the heart of Auckland city, Māori Wardens run a daily outreach centre for the homeless—open every day from 9am to 4pm.
They offer hot meals, clean showers, laundry, secure storage, and advocacy support—welcoming 45–70 individuals daily, 364 days a year.
In addition to providing a service to the homeless, Māori Wardens operate a significant food redistribution initiative.
Twice weekly, they collect five pallets of surplus food from Auckland City Mission provided by the charity Kiwiharvest. All five pallets are redistributed within 24 hours to feed 250–300 individuals.
Blaine Hoete says: KuraKai is an initiative that we support heavily. We collect cooked frozen meals (by Corporate Companies) and store till I have at least 500 meals (bi-monthly) and the drop off to secondary schools for Rangatahi to heat and eat or take home and feed whaanau.
This voluntary effort is led by the regional entity Ngā Purapura Wātene Mauri o Te Rōpū Kotahi.