What's New

Carers NZ launches new site

Carers NZ, the national peak body for carers, has made live its new website in time for the summer holidays.

Launched in 2001, www.carers.net.nz brings together many new resources and articles in one online place, says CEO Laurie Hilsgen.

The site also showcases Carers NZ's partnerships with government agencies such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Development, and ACC, she says.

"We are hosting the Government's new information for carers so they don't have to search for this across a number of sites ... they can find it all at our website."

This approach is unusual internationally, with governments in many countries hosting their own information for carers. 

"Having a practical partnership to distribute information for carers in one place makes sense, especially in a small nation like New Zealand," Laurie says.

The new website includes new wellbeing and learning resources, developed as an outcome of the Carers' Strategy and its five year Action Plan, and a special section for the NZ Carers Alliance, the coalition of 44 national non profits that successfully lobbied for the Strategy.

All past articles from Carers NZ's popular official publication, Family Care, are being migrated to the website in time for its official launch in February 2010.

"It's great to have all of these articles available online, because there are no copies left of the print magazine," Laurie says.

Development is continuing on parts of the site, including a new directory of respite options for carers, information for the Young Carers NZ section, and Caring 101, which guides carers to important kinds of help at different stages of their caring journey.

Carers NZ hopes all carers find something of interest at the site and welcomes feedback and ideas to improve it, Laurie says.

She says MSD and web development partner Origin Design have worked closely with Carers NZ to deliver the new website in time for Christmas.

Carers NZ will keep its network of 40,000 carers and their supporters informed of new content at the website, and its February 2010 launch.