A new chapter in community safety and partnership has been marked with the signing of a local Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Canterbury Police and Te Rūnanga o Ngā Maata Waka Māori Wardens.
The new agreement falls under the national Memorandum of Understanding signed between New Zealand Police and Māori Wardens in October last year, and recognises the role wardens play in supporting communities, de-escalating situations, and providing a trusted, visible presence.
Senior Sergeant Hamish Keer-Keer, who has been instrumental in shaping Canterbury’s new agreement, says he’s proud to be part of efforts to strengthen the presence of Māori Wardens in frontline policing.
“I remember when I was working frontline, I saw firsthand the difference Māori Wardens could make,” Hamish says.
“They had a unique way of calming situations that might have escalated for us, simply because people trusted them.
“They could walk into a tense environment and bring a sense of mana and connection that complemented our policing role in a way nothing else did.”
Over time, he noticed that connection fade, and the absence was felt.
“Reconnecting and partnering with Māori Wardens again has reminded me of the strength in doing things together – it’s not just good for one community, it’s good for all of our communities, because we all call this place home.”
The agreement was signed following a special pōwhiri held on 26 May 2026 at Nga Hau E Wha National Marae in Christchurch, with District Commander Tony Hill signing on behalf of Canterbury Police.
“Today’s pōwhiri reflects the importance of this relationship and the mutual respect that underpins how we support whānau and communities together,” Tony said at the event.
“This is not just an opportunity to work together, it is an opportunity for better outcomes for Māori, and better outcomes for the people we serve.
“While this document formalises our agreement, the real work is in bringing our partnership to life – and we’re committed to doing that in a genuine and meaningful way.”
Late last year, Māori Wardens took part in the first, now annual, joint training programme with Police, where they covered everything from legislation and security awareness to TENR, tactical communication, crowded places, and traffic management.
The training helped build confidence on both sides, creating a stronger, more cohesive approach when working together in public settings.
Since then, Māori Wardens have deployed alongside Police at several large-scale events, including Trademark Live, Electric Avenue, as well as the opening event of the new Te Kaha OneNZ stadium.
Senior Constable Bryan Dewes says their presence makes a clear difference on the ground.
“We include the Wardens in our briefings, so they understand GSMEAC, especially the mission – and that becomes their mission too,” Bryan says.
“We want them to de-escalate incidents where it’s safe to do so. Their safety is always the priority.”
That approach is already proving its value.
“Wardens have helped defuse tensions between guests and security staff, and in one incident at a recent event, their involvement led to the identification and eviction of the perpetrator, which meant the innocent party could stay,” Bryan says.
“Without that, both people would have been asked to leave. It was a really good result.”
As the events season stretches on, especially with the opening of Christchurch’s new stadium, the relationship between Canterbury Police and Māori Wardens is growing in strength and confidence.
The new Service Level Agreement outlines the operational partnership, but it’s the work on the ground that will bring it to life – improving outcomes for whānau and safer communities for everyone.