Carer Support Action Plan Opens for Public Consultation

There are moments in life when you realise just how much unseen generosity holds our communities together. Many of us know someone, a neighbour, a parent, a sibling or a friend  who quietly rearranges their life to support a loved one. It’s a role that often goes unrecognised, yet it shapes lives in profound ways. That’s why the Government’s latest move to seek public feedback on a new Carer Support Action Plan feels both timely and genuinely important.

Consultation Begins on the Carer Support Action Plan

The Government has officially opened consultations on a new action plan designed to recognise unpaid and informal carers, while laying out a long-term roadmap to better support them. Associate Social Development Minister Penny Simmonds says the focus is clear: improving outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of Kiwis who care for someone needing support with daily living whether due to age, disability, illness, injury or an ongoing health condition.

A Rolling Plan Built Through Partnership

The draft Carer Support Action Plan has been developed by the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) in partnership with the Carers Alliance and an advisory group of organisations representing carers. It is designed as a rolling plan, something that evolves over time, guided by the voices of the people it seeks to support.

The plan outlines progress across three core areas:

1. Recognition and Appreciation

Ensuring carers feel valued and acknowledged for the essential role they play in families and communities.

2. Health and Wellbeing

Improving access to the support carers need to maintain their own mental, emotional and physical health.

3. Financial Security

Addressing the financial pressures that many carers face as they balance employment, caregiving responsibilities and their own long-term stability.

What the Government Wants Now: Your Voice

Ms Simmonds emphasises that initial discussions have already been extremely valuable in identifying where support is most needed. Now, the Government wants to hear directly from those who live the realities of caregiving every day.

To make participation as accessible as possible, feedback opportunities will include:

• Stakeholder workshops

• Community-led workshops nationwide

• Quick online surveys

• Written submissions via MSD’s website

This open consultation aims to ensure that the Carer Support Action Plan reflects the real experiences of carers and leads to practical, meaningful improvements over time.