Minister for Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta has announced $1 million from Budget '18 will be allocated to Māori Wardens to support work with disengaged rangatahi.

“This fund will allow Māori Wardens in their regions to test innovative approaches to mentor rangatahi and provide them with the ‘soft skills’ needed to succeed in work or further education,” says Minister Mahuta.

The $1 million is provided over four years and will enable Māori Wardens to support rangatahi aged between 15-24 that may not be in education, employment or training, to develop those 'soft skills' that are needed to help rangatahi onto their education or employment path.

"'Soft skills' include influencing change or behaviour, building confidence, nurturing aspirations, and strengthening those natural attributes that every young Māori has," explains Te Rau Clark, Māori Warden Project Team Manager.

Minister Mahuta has acknowledged relationships Māori Wardens have with whānau and community members in providing this funding for them to continue their work with rangatahi.

"Māori Wardens have been operating at a grass roots level for over 150 years and their networks through New Zealand are deeply rooted within our communities. Their relationship enables them to closely support rangatahi and their whānau," says Minister Mahuta.

A few Māori Warden Groups will run innovative pilot programmes in 2018/19.  Learnings will support Māori Warden Groups nationwide to run their own programmes that are community-led with a whānau-centred approach.

The Māori Warden Project Team will provide day-to-day support to all Māori Warden Groups running programmes from this fund.