Foster Care Information Evening NZ: What to Expect and How to Contact Oranga Tamariki

You've been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you've read through the Oranga Tamariki website, or heard about it through someone you know. At some point the thinking has to turn into action — and in New Zealand, the formal first step is attending an information evening. Here's what that involves and what you should know before you go.

What the Information Evening Is

Oranga Tamariki calls these sessions "Exploring Care" information evenings. They're run by the Caregiver Recruitment and Support (CGRS) team and are designed as a realistic, no-commitment introduction to fostering. You can attend as an individual or as a couple, and you don't need to have made any decision yet — the whole point is to help you decide whether this is right for you.

These sessions are run at local Oranga Tamariki offices and are sometimes offered by NGO partner organisations like Barnardos or Open Home Foundation. The format is typically a group session with a presentation, followed by an open Q&A. Attendance is mandatory before you can proceed to a formal application — it's not optional.

What Gets Covered

The information evening gives you a realistic overview of what caregiving in New Zealand actually involves. Topics covered typically include:

The types of care available. This covers the difference between emergency, short-term, long-term, respite, and specialist care — and which types have the most urgent need for caregivers in your region. In 2026, there is particularly high demand for carers who can take teenagers, sibling groups, and children with complex needs.

The assessment process. You'll get a walkthrough of what the application involves: the documents required, the timeline (typically two to three months, sometimes longer), the police vetting requirements, the home assessment, and the interview process.

The financial support available. The caregiver allowance rates, the one-off grants, and the other financial supports are explained. For many attendees, this is the first time they hear about things like the establishment grant or the Higher Foster Care Allowance.

Cultural expectations. Because approximately 69% of children in care in New Zealand identify as Māori, the cultural dimension of caregiving is covered directly. What mana tamaiti means in practice, how you support a child's connection to their whakapapa and identity, and what the ongoing cultural competency obligations look like.

What caregivers actually experience. This is usually the most valuable part. CGRS workers are frank about the challenges — the impact of trauma-related behaviour on households, the emotional complexity of contact with birth families, the support that is available and where the gaps are. The Ministry is aware that unrealistic expectations set caregivers up to struggle, and the information evening is where they try to level that out.

What to Bring and What to Ask

You don't need to prepare extensively for an information evening. You don't need to bring documents or references — that stage comes later. What's useful:

Your genuine questions. These sessions have an open Q&A component and the facilitators have heard most questions before. Common questions from first-time attendees include:

• What happens if I have something on my police check?
• How much say do I get in the age or needs of the child placed with me?
• What support is available if a placement breaks down?
• How long does the process typically take in this region?
• Can I foster if I rent rather than own?

Your honest circumstances. If something about your household feels uncertain — a health condition, a past police matter, a complicated family configuration — the information evening is a good place to get an initial read. You don't have to disclose everything, but raising your situation in general terms with a CGRS worker will usually give you a more useful answer than trying to navigate it alone.

Contacting Oranga Tamariki: The 0508 CARERS Line

The main national contact point for caregiver enquiries is the 0508 CARERS line: 0508 227 377. This line is operated by the Oranga Tamariki caregiver recruitment team and can:

• Tell you when the next information evening is running in your area
• Connect you with the local CGRS team
• Answer general questions about eligibility and the process
• Direct you to NGO partner organisations if there's a better fit for your location or circumstances

The line operates during business hours. If you're based in a rural area or your nearest office is some distance away, it's worth calling first to ask whether there are information sessions specifically for your region, or whether initial conversations can happen remotely.

You can also register your interest directly through the Oranga Tamariki website, which routes your inquiry to the CGRS team for your region. Either path works — the phone line tends to get a faster response.

NGO Partners: An Alternative Starting Point

While Oranga Tamariki is the government agency managing the approval process, several NGO partners run their own information sessions and in some cases have their own caregiver recruitment and assessment processes:

Barnardos is one of the largest providers, particularly in Auckland and major centres. They run their own information sessions and support caregivers through the assessment process with their own workers.

Open Home Foundation and Caring Families Aotearoa are other prominent organisations with regional presence. Caring Families Aotearoa also operates as an advocacy body for caregivers, providing support and training to those already in the system.

If you go through an NGO partner rather than directly through Oranga Tamariki, the assessment framework and standards are the same — you're still seeking approval as an Oranga Tamariki-approved caregiver — but your day-to-day support may come from the NGO's social workers rather than a Ministry CGRS worker. Some caregivers find the smaller-organisation feel of an NGO is a better fit, particularly if they want more hands-on support through the process.

After the Information Evening

If you attend and decide you want to proceed, the next step is usually to collect your application form and begin gathering the required documents. These include:

• A medical report from your GP (covering physical and mental health)
• Contact details for at least two referees, one of whom is a relative
• Police vetting forms for all household members aged 18 and over
• Evidence of identity and residency status
• Overseas police certificates if you've lived outside New Zealand for 12 months or more in the last decade

The application is submitted to your local CGRS team, who will assign a social worker to manage your assessment from there.

The process from information evening to formal approval typically takes two to three months when things move smoothly, though operational pressures in the system sometimes extend that timeline. If you haven't heard from your social worker within a couple of weeks of submitting your application, following up is entirely appropriate.

The New Zealand Foster Care Guide walks you through the complete application and approval process — from what to expect at the information evening through to your first placement. If you're ready to take this seriously, it gives you a clear map of the road ahead.

Get the New Zealand Foster Care Guide

See more New Zealand guides →