Māori Wardens spread safety net in Katikati

Above: Katikati Maori Wardens from left Susan Tukaki, Shaan Kingi, Charlotte Huiarangi.

Behind the scenes in Katikati a group of volunteers spends every waking hour dedicated to helping local people in need - youth at risk, the vulnerable elderly, solo and teenage mums and families whose cupboards are bare.

The Katikati Māori Wardens Charitable Trust has been quietly tapping into the community's deepest needs for almost four years. The wardens provide shelter, refuge, food, laundry facilities and a warm embrace for everyone who reaches out.

Trust executive member Shaan Kingi says the Māori Wardens are seen as the `go-to people' when help is needed.

We offer a place where the young people can come and be safe. We help young people develop into confident adults who can integrate into the community. We offer support for our kuia and kaumatua - all vulnerable people in town who seek us out.''

There are 31 wardens in Katikati, a core group of which operates the hub at 49 Beach Street. Their day-to-day work is voluntary and several funders in the wider community contribute to their annual operating costs of approximately $34,000.

Most recently the wardens received $5000 from Western Bay of Plenty District Council's Community Matching Fund and a grant from the Katikati Community Board.

Council's support extends beyond funding. Through Katch Katikati, Council helped them source funding, set up their community hub, and mentored the Trust with its planning and strategic direction.

Community Relationship Advisor Ben Wilson has worked with the wardens every step of the way and says they are a good example of community building.

Council has always seen the merit in backing this group. They do an enormous range of work and are seen as pivotal to the community frontline.''

To date the following programmes have been run by the Katikati Māori Wardens:

• Youth at Risk programmes
• NCEA studies for Year 11 facilitated by external services and tutored by former Katikati College students
• Mini Mums: Teenage mums and solo mums are helped by the Super Grans who help the young mothers budget and gain life skills
• School Holiday Camps: White water rafting, horse riding, outdoor camps
• Kiwi Can Do: Introducing 17-year-olds upwards to trades to give them a pathway to employment
• Homeless: Help families get a roof over their heads
• Food deliveries: Weekly food care parcels to families and elderly in need, provided by the Good Neighbour Trust
• Civil Defence emergency assistance: Wardens helped out at Edgecumbe floods and Christchurch earthquakes
• Security work: Wardens provide safety and security assistance.

The success of the Katikati Māori Wardens has triggered discussions with iwi across the Tauranga Moana rohe (from Otamarakau to Waihi Beach) to establish similar Māori Warden groups to promote community care and safety.

Shaan is hoping to help other towns, such as Te Puke, establish Māori Wardens so to build the community resilience and support network that Katikati is achieving.

He credits the good relationship with the three iwi in Katikati (Otawhiwhi, Te Rereatukahia and Ngati te Wai) as being pivotal to the success of their work.