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

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