Kinship Care Support Organisations in New Zealand: GRG, CAB and Community Law
You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
Taking on a grandchild or relative's child is overwhelming enough without trying to navigate Work and Income on your own. Several organisations across New Zealand provide free, specialised support for kinship caregivers — from help with benefit applications to advocacy when things go wrong.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) Trust
GRG is the primary national organisation supporting kinship caregivers in New Zealand. They understand the specific challenges grandparents and whānau caregivers face because kinship care is their sole focus.
What they offer:
- A free national helpline on 0800 472 637 staffed by people who know the benefit system inside out
- Field advocates who can help you prepare UCB or Orphan's Benefit applications, gather evidence, and attend Work and Income appointments with you
- Support groups across the country where caregivers connect with others in similar situations
- Regular newsletters (pānui) with updates on benefit rates, policy changes, and upcoming events
- Advocacy to help caregivers understand and navigate the application and review process
GRG advocates are particularly useful when your situation is complicated — a parent whose whereabouts are unknown, shared care arrangements, or cases involving family violence where standard parental contact requirements need to be waived.
Contact: Phone 0800 472 637, or visit grg.org.nz.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
CAB operates across New Zealand with face-to-face offices, phone support, and online services. Their volunteers handle a wide range of issues, but they can help kinship caregivers with:
- Understanding your entitlements under Work and Income
- Explaining the application process for UCB, OB, and supplementary allowances
- Directing you to a Justice of the Peace for free document certification
- Referring you to specialist services when your situation is beyond general advice
CAB is a good starting point if you are not sure which benefit applies to your situation, or if you need help understanding a letter or decision from Work and Income.
Contact: Phone 0800 367 222, or visit cab.org.nz to find your nearest bureau.
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Community Law Centres
Community Law Centres provide free legal advice to people who cannot afford a private lawyer. For kinship caregivers, they are most useful when:
- Your UCB or Orphan's Benefit has been declined and you need to understand the legal grounds
- You want to request a Review of Decision or prepare for a Benefits Review Committee hearing
- You need advice on the intersection between benefit entitlements and Family Court matters (such as whether a Parenting Order would help or hinder your benefit claim)
Community Law Centres are located throughout New Zealand. They typically offer appointment-based advice sessions, and some run drop-in legal clinics.
Contact: Visit communitylaw.org.nz to find your nearest centre.
When to Use Which Service
If you are at the start of the process and need help applying, GRG is the strongest option — their advocates specialise in exactly this. If your application has been declined and you need legal advice about your review options, a Community Law Centre can help you understand the statutory framework. CAB is the generalist bridge that can point you in the right direction if you are unsure where to start.
All three services are free. None of them replace the formal application you need to make through Work and Income, but they can make the difference between a successful first application and months of frustrating back-and-forth.
Going Further
The Unsupported Child's Benefit and Orphan's Benefit guide for NZ caregivers brings together the full application process, evidence checklists, supplementary allowance details, and appeals procedure in one printable resource — so you can prepare thoroughly before reaching out to Work and Income or any of these support organisations.
Get Your Free NZ Caregiver Benefit Checklist
Download the NZ Caregiver Benefit Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.