A Monthly Newsletter of Kāi Tahu news, views and events.
From 5-7 September, the Kaikōura Māori Wardens group hosted police training at Takahanga Marae.
Ōtautahi mahi coordinator, Jacqui Te Wani and warranted warden, Lennie Smith and Garry Te Wani (Jnr), brought eight of their trainees up from Christchurch for the training session.
The weather was perfect, the yummy kai was in abundance, and the views from the marae were breath-taking. The kāinga made us feel like we belonged there.
Ngā Wātene Māori katoa.
Michelle Taiaroa-McDonald reports that earlier this month Ōtākou formally established a branch of voluntary Māori Wardens.
For those born in the 80s and beyond you may not be familiar with the sight of a Māori Warden walking the streets and events in our city, with their incredibly shiny shoes and ability to call your Mum and let her know you were smoking at the Queens Gardens bus stop (I’m not bitter at all).
Youth crime statistics in our city are disgusting. Many factors including alcohol, can turn a shiny future in a heartbeat. Interception by a Māori Warden can make a difference between a drunken teenager and a set of handcuffs, so when the police asked for rūnanga assistance we were happy to respond. [Read more…]