Strengthening Kinship Care in Aotearoa New Zealand

Family for Every Child has contracted our founder Dr Braden Clark to lead a research project titled Strengthening Kinship Care in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can read more about the research below:

The right for children to grow up in a safe, loving whānau environment is critical to their development and well-being. However, many children/tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially Māori, have historically been placed in state care rather than with their kin, often resulting in trauma, cultural disconnection, and a lack of identity support.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s child protection system has been marked by high rates of institutional abuse and a failure to meet the needs of children/tamariki. This is particularly true for Tamariki Māori, who are disproportionately represented in care. This is evident in the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light. Abuse in the care system is an ongoing issue. VOYCE Whakarongo Mai’s Roopuu Kaitiaki Mo Nga Teina e Haere Ake Nei report Korowai Aroha details the experiences and key asks of 11 young individuals who endured abuse after 1999.

In addition to this, formal kinship carers often face systemic challenges such as inequitable access to financial, educational, and emotional support. Additionally, informal carers lack legal recognition and essential resources, which are needed to provide stable, nurturing environments and supports for children so they can thrive.

Currently, there is limited Aotearoa New Zealand research about kinship care (particularly informal kinship care). Family for Every Child seeks to work with key stakeholders to address this gap by exploring kinship care (formal and informal) in Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes definitions of kinship care, kinship care dynamics, challenges, and the support needs of kinship carers to improve care outcomes.

Why this research matters

Family for Every Child’s vision is for a world in which children and families everywhere have access to the support they need to survive and thrive. When children are unable to live with their parents, they have the right to remain living with their family. The research will explore both formal and informal kinship care practices in Aotearoa, with a focus on reforming current systems to uphold children's rights and decolonise kinship practices.

It will provide a robust evidence base on the importance of kinship care within Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings will be able to be used to inform others and advocate for reforms that prioritise, support and enable whānau-based care, reflecting cultural values and contributing to child protection policies aligned with decolonising practice.