Relationships Aotearoa - Our Story; filling in the gaps
“Discussions continued throughout yesterday about a possible future for Relationships Aotearoa,” says Dr Jane Allison,
new Interim Board Chair of Relationships Aotearoa (RA).
“This is what we know:
· Discussions with government have revealed an assumption that RA would close, but there were no realistic plans for how
this would be managed for clients. The situation is particularly complex because RA provides services throughout the
country, including isolated and smaller communities and to families and whanau in poverty. In many cases, this is more
costly due to staff and travel, than providing services in the main centres.
· Since Monday, RA has presented material to officials which reveals the complexity of maintaining service continuity
for clients - especially for intensive services and in the many areas where there is no other provider.
· Further, it is evident that RA provides intensive family support, early intervention and family violence services to
vulnerable children and families and whanau. These are the very people that are the focus of the government’s new
community investment strategy that has recently been discussed in the media.
· Following this information sharing between RA, the Minister and officials, we have undertaken intensive planning
around how to provide service continuity for clients.
· RA is not seeking a bail-out as suggested by some. The options under discussion involve arrangements for continued
service provision and how this would be achieved.”
ENDS