Source: New Zealand Government
Children with parents in prison are among those who will benefit from early intervention through seven new projects funded by the Social Investment Fund.
In this first round of funding, a total of $50 million will go towards programmes reaching more than 1600 children, ranging from newborns through to eighteen-year-olds.
Ministers decided the priority cohorts for the first round of the Social Investment Fund were:
Children with parents who are, or have recently been, in jail
Children of parents who experienced the care system, and
Children who have been stood down or suspended from school before age 13
Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says the successful organisations demonstrated an ability to make the best overall impact for those groups, and to measure success.
“Each of the initiatives will be monitored to see how successful they are in improving measurable outcomes for the people they support.
“That includes progress on better health, greater safety, more stable and secure housing, improved knowledge and skills, growing income and wealth, and support for their families into work.”
The Government allocated $190 million in Budget 2025 for the Social Investment Fund.
Another funding round for new initiatives will open early next year.
Notes to editors:
The funded projects are:
Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited: support for 120 children for individual and group sessions to reduce school drop-out rates and justice and care system involvement – Dunedin.
Tākiri Mai te Ata Trust: support for counselling and trauma therapy for 200 young people in care, have parents in prison, or have been stood down from school – Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.
Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Charitable Trust: support for 200 children for health, safety and life skills – Christchurch and wider Canterbury.
Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services Trust: support for 450 children, providing support for families dealing with historic trauma, and building specialist forensic nursing for child sexual abuse – Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Barnardos New Zealand Incorporated: support for 100 for family mentoring, and parenting support to help children reach developmental milestones, such as early childhood education attendance – Māngere.
Horowhenua New Zealand Trust: For more than 400 children for a behaviour change programme – Levin
Kaikaranga Holding Ltd: support for 150 disabled and neurodiverse children who have been suspended or stood down from school. Services include tutoring, sensory tools and short-term behavioural guidance – Auckland.
Successful organisations were selected by a panel made up of government and sector leaders. You can find more information about the panellists here.
Social Investment outcome areas, including fund priority outcomes, can be found here.
Information about the Social Investment Fund
Read Social Investment Fund FAQs
