“A few years ago, I volunteered with a community organisation that distributed food parcels, however they were restricted to a specific zone. After much thought, I developed a Plan B that removed those restrictions and implemented a simple but effective Kaupapa: One Car, One Parcel – No Exceptions. The only rule is that we follow this kaupapa with consistency and fairness.
The need within our community continues grows, it was my turn to stop being a spectator of the game. It was my turn to start to play the game for the betterment of my children and their children’s children. Like everything, you start with the basics and from there you grow as a person, and you grow within the organisation. In the beginning I knew nothing, now twenty-three years later, I run the organisation.
Being a Warden with Ōtautahi Māori Wardens Association is not as easy and not what a lot of people presume – you don’t put a pretty uniform on for a couple of hours then go home. Reality is we have training e.g. First Aid, Fire, Communication, Traffic Control etc. Our day could start at 6am and finish at 5pm, at the end of the day your feet will hurt, but you still smile and be helpful always to those you meet. You listen to your team leader, and you attend Māori Wardens monthly meeting.
In the beginning, we found that most of those requiring assistance were from lower-income households. Today, in 2026, we are seeing increasing numbers of middle-income families and others who never expected they would need support. We have also found that the need extends right across Ōtautahi, with people reaching out from all corners of our city. There are times when our supplies have run low, and rather than turn people away, we have personally purchased additional food to ensure parcels could still be provided to those in need. We are grateful to receive donations, whether in the form of food items or monetary contributions, as every donation helps us support whanau facing hardship.
This [Award] belongs not only to the Ōtautahi Māori Wardens, but to every volunteer, supporter, donor, and community member who has stood alongside us. Together, we are making a difference, one parcel, one whanau, and one act of kindness at a time.”
