CEO Message February 2026
Kia 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 of Plenty, Hauraki and Tairāwhiti, I hope you and your whānau are safe. My thoughts are with you during this highly emotional and testing time.
While our Regional Coordinator in the North East, Nyvonne, is back at work this week, she has been impacted by the extreme weather, like so many others, and will be working in a limited capacity. However, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on 0800 693 323 if you require caregiving support, or even if you just need someone to talk to.
As some of you will know, 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Caring Families Aotearoa. From its origins as a collection of foster care associations in the 1970s, our organisation has grown and evolved significantly. I hope you will join us this year as we celebrate the dedication of our pioneers and the people who’ve shared a passion for not only the wellbeing of children, but the importance of service standards and support networks for everyone involved in foster and whānau care. Click here to find out more about how we will be celebrating.
In the training space, I encourage you to keep up-to-date with the new courses we’re adding to our caregiver training suite. This year we will gradually deliver the first foundational level of our online training framework – and we’d love to have your feedback along the way.
Tiaki i a koutou anō (look after yourselves).
