CEO Message May 2026I hope you and your whānau had a lovely long ANZAC weekend. In Wellington, we were lucky to enjoy a sunny spell, which came as a welcome relief after the torrential rain that impacted so many households here. Talking of weather, as April draws to a...
NOTE TO SELF: Talking with children about their story Tamariki and rangatahi benefit emotionally from knowing their past and family stories. However, many people are uncomfortable talking about difficult topics, especially those involving pain, loss, or uncertainty....
An ANZAC Day storyThis ANZAC Day, we’d like to share a different kind of caregiving story that is close to the heart of one of our kaimahi, Jennifer Hanson. In November 1944, 733 Polish children arrived in Wellington at the invitation of the Prime Minister Peter...
CEO Message April 2026 No one could dispute the fact that we are passionate about our work here at Caring Families Aotearoa. It was great to see so many new connections made, warmth, laughter and stories shared at events during Foster Care Awareness Week and...
Join our Team!Regional Committee Volunteers needed We are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in being part of our Regional Committee team in 2026. This is a volunteer role for up to 2 years at a time. We are currently on the lookout for volunteers living in...
CEO Message March 2026Happy Foster Care Awareness Week! During the first week of March, we take time to pause and celebrate all our incredible caregiver members across the motu (country). This month has become one of the true highlights of our year—a special moment to...
Every Carer Counts: Why Carer Support must be Fair and Consistent.The Ministry of Social Development recently sought feedback on the draft Carers Strategy Action Plan, which focuses on supporting unpaid and informal carers across Aotearoa. Caring Families Aotearoa...
VOYCE National Conference: Caregiver supportVOYCE Whakarongo Mai is excited to host their very first national conference, Kōkiri – The Future Speaks, 16–17 March at Tākina, Wellington. 🎉 VOYCE is an NGO created to advocate for the rights, needs and wellbeing of...
CEO Message February 2026Kia ora As I write this column, news of the scale of devastation caused by torrential rain and strong winds in the North East is still unfolding. If you are caregiving in the flood-ravaged communities across Whangārei, Thames-Coromandel, Bay...
Christmas holiday tipsFor many of us, Christmas is a joyful time; spending time with loved ones, eating delicious kai, having lots of fun and enjoying whānau. However, for some of us, including our tamariki and rangatahi who may have adverse childhood experiences, it...
CEO Message December 2025Kia ora As we approach the festive season, it’s time for me to reflect on the past year and extend my heartfelt thanks to you for providing a safe and healing home for the children in your care. A highlight for 2025 was the successful rollout...
CEO Message November 2025Kia ora My thoughts are with those of you who are faced with a massive clear up after the severe weather over Labour Weekend, followed by the cold snap last week – particularly Southland, Clutha and Kaikōura. For many of us, it wasn’t the...
CEO Message October 2025Kia ora I hope the school holidays are going well for your whānau so far – and daylight savings hasn’t caused too much disruption to your household. It’s nice to have the luxury of one week to help tamariki adjust to the lighter evenings before...
Colin, Scott & Caine - a caregiving story5 September 2025 * Names have been changed throughout this story, for anonymity. Colin is a caregiver with a remarkable story. He and his former partner were the first same-sex couple in New Zealand to be approved to adopt...
CEO Message September 2025Kia ora It’s hard to believe September is here already – a time to celebrate Dads, daylight savings, warmer Spring weather and school holidays! With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, I’d like to sincerely thank all caregiving Dads for your...
CEO Message August 2025Kia ora I hope you and your whānau are well. My thoughts have been with those of you who live in flood-affected communities. Please remember that our team is here to support you, especially through this difficult time. I wanted to take this...
Help us to shape change - we are advocating for caregivers to have access to legal aidMake your voice heard - submissions close on 1 August 2025 Right now, the New Zealand government is reviewing the legal aid system – it's time to have your say! We often hear from...
PACE your journey: Tips for travelling with tamarikiResearch playgrounds and attractions. Make a note of playgrounds and indoor spots that you’ll pass along the way, where your tamaiti can burn off some energy. Most City Councils have a map of play areas like this...
CEO Message July 2025 Kia ora I am writing this column after enjoying a long Matariki weekend. I hope you and your whānau managed to spend some relaxing time together doing something you love. For me, Matariki this year was about celebrating the present. I spent some...
NOTE TO SELF: Kids aren't born naughty As this is such a big subject, I have decided to tackle it in two parts. Nature or nurture has been a hot topic for many years - and over time experts have tended to lean towards one, or the other. Today, evidence seems to...