For the first time, Māori Wardens of Te Whanaganui-Ā-Tara (the Wellington District) now have their own website maoriwardens.org - "a step towards modernising our operation, particularly as more and more people show an interest in joining the kaupapa," says the Wellington District Commander Gabriel Tupou.
The Māori Wardens - Wellington District Facebook Page was setup in May last year with the website being the next step of "going digital." In November the Māori Wardens published a video of them working with the Police and Pacific Patrol in Wellington City on a Saturday night. The video generated 27 thousand views and a few enquiries from people interested in joining. The website will be used for recruitment and will feed into the Facebook page.
“The new website is a starting point for improving our recruitment process and gives people a glimpse into the work that we do in our communities.”
- Gabriel Tupou, District Commander
There are around 1000 Māori Wardens nation-wide, around 50 of whom are in the Wellington Region. The Māori Wardens movement is encapsulated in the whakataukī, "aroha ki te tangata" - for the love of the people.