The New Zealand Carers' Strategy

Between 500,000 and 1 million New Zealanders provide informal and unpaid care

Carers are family, whānau, aiga, friends or individuals who provide unpaid or informal care to a person or people for reasons such as disability, ageing, physical and mental health conditions, addictions, neurodiversity, injury, or palliative care.

The role of carers is often hidden in families and communities, in part because many consider it to be just “what families do”.

Carers are crucial to New Zealand society:

• They enable people to live and participate in their communities.
• They also help reduce dependence on health and aged care systems.

Demand for carers is growing because:

• more people are living longer,
• more people have multiple long-term health conditions, and
• more people are living at home (rather than going into institutional care).

A cross-government strategy to better support carers

The New Zealand Carers’ Strategy was launched in 2008 by then Minister for Senior Citizens, the Hon Ruth Dyson.

The Strategy was developed in partnership by government agencies and the New Zealand Carers Alliance (which represents a network of over 60 not-for-profit organisations). It is supported by five-year action plans that address key priorities identified by carers and the Government.

The Strategy acknowledges the real difference carers can make in people’s lives and provides the Government’s vision for carers in New Zealand:

“New Zealand is a society that values individuals, families, whānau and aiga who support others who need help with their everyday living.”

This will be achieved when:

• carers have choices and opportunities to participate in family life, social activities, employment and education
• carers’ voices are heard in decision-making that affects them.

Mahi Aroha Carers' Strategy Action Plan

Mahi Aroha Carers’ Strategy Action Plan is a cross-government plan to support improved outcomes for New Zealand’s unpaid or informal carers.

Developed in partnership with the Carers Alliance and an advisory group of organisations representing carers, the new Carers’ Strategy Action Plan focuses on three priority areas –health and wellbeing; financial security; and recognition and appreciation.

Unlike previous action plans, Mahi Aroha Carers’ Strategy Action Plan does not expire. Instead, it sets out a long-term approach for making progress on the core issues that carers face. In addition, Mahi Aroha will be updated over time, with a focus on strong accountability across government to achieve current actions, while continuing to build on the Action Plan into the future.

Alternate formats and translations will be made available as they are completed.

What we heard: Summary of Engagement on the development of Mahi Aroha

Carers from throughout New Zealand provided feedback on a draft of the Action Plan and made a significant contribution to the development of Mahi Aroha.

Alternate formats and translations will be made available as they are completed.

Additional Information for Carers

If you are a carer – or know someone who is a carer – your can find more information on the available supports, services, programmes and key contacts below.

• A Guide for Carers: this guide provides information on supports, financial and non-financial available to carers and how to access them
• CarersNZ website: provides a hub for ideas, guidance, learning and support. This includes things like “Find Services and Support” tool, and a Time Out Guide
• CareMatters: provides a National Carer Learning and Wellbeing Resource Service with online resources, face-to-face workshop information, and care planning.
• MyCare: Online matching service that aims to find carers access to respite carers

Previous action plans and other supporting documents

Consultation on Mahi Aroha (now closed) visit Draft Carers' Strategy Action Plan - MSD