Maori wardens are going into classrooms in Melbourne to reach out to growing numbers of Maori youth there.
The Victoria Maori Wardens group was officially launched in Melbourne in November. It has been building its profile through Friday night patrols with the police and community fund-raising events.
Chairperson James Hohepa-Smith said secondary schools with a significant number of Maori pupils are keen for the wardens to talk to them.
Mr Hohepa-Smith said the schools asked the wardens to introduce themselves to students to let them know who they are, and what they do to keep wayward young people out of trouble.