Strengthening Kinship Care in Aotearoa
Honouring and supporting families in New Zealand
The research
Our research in Aotearoa has one goal: to make sure more tamariki and rangatahi stay safe with their whānau and communities instead of entering state care. This mahi is led by locals and leans on lessons learned around the world.
“The speakers from Family for Every Child spoke and my heart smiled. They got it. I have not met many people who really understand what it is like for Grandparents. They studied some case studies and they did get it. I felt seen and heard.”
– shared by a grandparent kinship carer at the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren national volunteer conference
Who has been involved in this mahi?
“It’s whānau just all supporting each other and stepping in when you have to so that it doesn’t get any worse and trying to do our best for the children.”
– Research participant, Strengthening Kinship Care in Aotearoa New Zealand
What is kinship care?
When parents can’t care for their children, it’s often a sibling, grandparent, or close family friend who steps in. This is kinship care, or whānau based care — when family helps to keep children in communities. In New Zealand, between 16,000 and 22,000 tamariki grow up this way, yet these families often struggle and urgently need support.
When it is safe and in their best interests, all children have the right to stay with whānau and within their community. We’ve come together as a collective to reimagine how children in care, and their families, are supported. Because often, kinship carers are the quiet heroes of our communities. Their love, time, and dedication keep children safe.
Why does this matter?
Because often, kinship carers are the quiet heroes of our communities. Their love, time, and dedication keep children safe, but they often go unnoticed. Our latest research sets out to change this.
Our recommendations
We need to collect evidence about kinship care and fill more gaps
Kinship care has to be promoted as a form of care for children
We need a national guiding strategy to keep all children safe and protected
We need programmes to train our social workforce to support kinship carers
We need to collaborate across sectors and coordinate responses
We need to ensure that social services are financially supported
We need to normalise kinship care as the preferred alternative
Now, we are advocating for change. Supporting kinship care is one piece of the puzzle for better, safer care for children. The sector needs to work together.
The people behind it
One of our head researchers, with years of experience as a social worker, is Dr. Michelle Egan-Bitran.
The Aotearoa-based organisations that backed this research are the true changemakers here! Have a look below.
Policies
Connect
2025 Family for Every Child New Zealand Trust | Registration no. CC54645 | Company no. 2670471
2025 Family for Every Child is a charitable company limited by guarantee | Registered charity in England and Wales no. 1149212 | Company no. 08177641
2025 Family Alliance Inc. | Family Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation registered in NYS | EIN 46-5518730
