Te Tautoko i ngā Tūpuna, Mātua, me te Whānau,
i roto i ngā mahi tiaki Mokopuna i ngā rā ō mua, ināianei,
me ngā rā kei te heke mai.

Supporting, Grandparents/kin and grandchildren/kin children.
Our past, present and future.

Free phone for carers 0800 472 637

Welcome to our Website:
We are a non-profit Charitable Trust, based in New Zealand, established to
support Grandparents/kin who are raising Grandchildren/whanau children.

Mission:
Provide support services that help to reduce stress, promote and preserve the wellbeing of families/whanau and maximise stability in the lives of grandparents, kincarers and children in circumstances where the children are not being raised by their parents.

Aims:

-	Provide support to grandparents/kin who are primary caregivers
-	Provide opportunity for grandchildren/kin to interact with others in the same situation
-	Raise awareness as to the role of the grandparents/kin in the primary caregiving role
-	Undertake research to establish the depth of grandparents/kin in the primary caregiver role in New Zealand and respond accordingly
-	Facilitate change in the legal and regulatory environment for children and caregivers

Di Vivian in her GRG office

Our History:
When in 1997, Diane Vivian took over the care of her small, traumatised grandchildren, she could not believe the stress she encountered.

Setting about to discover what help or support was available in 1999, she found there was none! She decided there must be many others in her position and put an ad in the paper. The phone did not stop ringing. A need had been identified. In consultation with Jill Nerheny, the Birkenhead /Northcote Community Co-ordinator, a support group was set up under the controller of the Community Facilities Trust. A public meeting was held and they knew they had a tiger by the tail. As the group grew they spent many months venting, weeping, sharing and building trust. The group set the objectives and a vision statement which now form the founding document and guiding principles of all the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Groups or Grandparents and Kincare Groups.

Today there are many support groups throughout the country, reaching from Dargaville in the north to Invercargill in the South. Membership grows daily. Groups actively lobby parliament, network with other communities and speak to many community organizations.

They strive to make a difference for all grand/kinchildren and grandparents/kin who care about them.

The organisation salutes all Grandparents/kin who have taken in Grand/kinchildren and put the needs of those precious ones before their own. You are indeed doing angels' work here on earth. Together we have made a difference in a child's life.

CEO of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ

Geoff Lawson email geoff@grg.org.nz

Cell 021 727 004.

Important News:

The GRG Trust NZ Board is aware that a new Facebook page and website has been started up by a Wellington-based person.

Please be advised that we are NOT associated with this page at all and the Facebook page and associated website DOES NOT represent our organisation.

The name given to the Facebook and website is very similar to ours and is causing confusion to people. See our July 2010 Newsletter as to why we do not have a GRG FB page.

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A "GRAND" MOTHER

God's special gift to children
Who need a mother's love

Part Grandma and part angel
A treasure from above

Her heart is filled with anguish
Because of the children's loss

So now she shields their heartstrings
Protects them at all cost

God blesses all Grand-Mothers
Because He knows they care

And so they raise God's children
To live, to love, to share

So if you are "Grand"Mother
To grandchild, nephew or niece

The Lord will help and guide you
And give you an everlasting peace!
Louise Eagle © 2009

Permission granted October 2009

Promoting our Cause

Many of you will already know that we have had a lot of publicity this week promoting the need for “grandparents raising grandchildren” families to receive the same level of support that foster families receive.

Firstly there was an item on TVNZ Close Up on Monday night (Jan 30^th) featuring one of our families along with Di being interviewed and Geoff, our new CEO, in a debate with Muriel Newman. Then On Tuesday morning Di was on TVOne’s Breakfast. As well as the television coverage, the lines have been buzzing at Newstalk ZB on Leighton Smith’s show in the morning and Danny Watson’s show in the afternoon. Thank you to all those who have phoned in. This has been a great week for us all. And we’ve signed up a lot of new members. Keep up the great work

GRG Newsletter

January 2012

It is with great delight we introduce our new CEO Geoff Lawson, read all about Geoff and a very warm welcome to our GRG family Geoff.

Morning Tea with Ian Grant (Parents Inc) begins in Auckland and will travel around the country for our members. Free of charge for our members.

SALT (Sharing & Learning Together) coming to Rotorua, Hawkes Bay & Whanganui, this also is free of charge for our members.

Santa's letter: Find out what was in it! Gorgeous.

We welcome and new support group in Palmerston North read the newsletter for more information and also meeting date for Invercargill.

Coming this year nationally. "Morning tea with Ian Grant" from Parents Inc. Especially for our members!.

Read more in the newsletter for this month.

Kincarers of family children are welcome to join us. The same applies if you think you will be taking on children, we would rather you be informed before the event, please add the word potential.

Member Services:
Can our Field Officers assist you? Please click on Field Officer button in the menu to left of this page.

Caregivers are your grand/kin children under CYF care and protection?If so and you need assistance please phone 0508 227 377 you will be able to speak to a Social Worker if your regular one is not available

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Meet: Nicolette Bodewes GRG Board member

Meet Trevor Pugh GRG Board member

Meet Mere Tunks GRG Board member

Meet Kate Bundle a GRG Board member

Mission:Provide support services that help to reduce stress, promote and preserve the wellbeing of families/whanau and maximise stability in the lives of grandparents, kincarers and children in circumstances where the children are not being raised by their parents.

Important News:

Mission:
Provide support services that help to reduce stress, promote and preserve the wellbeing of families/whanau and maximise stability in the lives of grandparents, kincarers and children in circumstances where the children are not being raised by their parents.