Breadcrumbs
New Investment Selected Initiatives
Round One selected initiatives progressed to contract negotiations
Children with parents in prison are among those who will benefit from early intervention through the preferred new projects anticipated for funding by the Social Investment Fund.
In this first round of funding, up to $50 million is anticipated to go towards programmes reaching more than 1200 children, ranging from newborns through to eighteen-year-olds.
These initiatives were announced in December 2025 and progressed to contract negotiations in Round One of Pathway One: New Investment.
Barnardos New Zealand Incorporated
Māngere
Te Korowai Mokopuna provides early support for tamariki aged 0 to 5 and their caregivers and whānau who are experiencing challenges. It brings together early childhood education, therapeutic support and social work so whānau can get coordinated support in one approach.
The initiative will support up to 160 tamariki and their whānau over four years, using a trauma-informed approach.
Kaikaranga Holding Ltd
Auckland
Poipoia te Kākano is a whānau-centred service that helps tamariki, rangatahi and whānau facing complex and connected challenges. It provides support, helps whānau find and access the services they need, and coordinates support across services.
The initiative will support up to 400 disabled or neurodiverse children aged 5 to 12 each year. It focuses on children who are at high or immediate risk of disengaging from education and experiencing poor outcomes later in life. These children may not be getting the support they need because services are fragmented and difficult to navigate.
Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services Trust
Eastern Bay of Plenty
The initiative provides kaupapa Māori, whānau-centred support for whānau experiencing family harm and related wellbeing challenges across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. It can support up to 250 tamariki at any one time.
Whānau can access timely, culturally grounded support regardless of how they first connect with services or how complex their needs are.
Tākiri Mai te Ata Trust
Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt
Te Hā o Anamata – The Breath of the Future brings together organisations across Te Awa Kairangi (Upper and Lower Hutt) to support people facing complex and connected challenges.
The initiative will support up to 750 people over four years by bringing together health, education, social services and cultural support in a coordinated way.
Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited
Dunedin
The initiative provides mentoring for tamariki aged 7 to 14 who are experiencing significant challenges. It uses a proven, relationship-based approach that supports the whole child and helps improve their wellbeing and future outcomes.
The initiative will support up to 100 tamariki each year, or 400 over four years.
Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Charitable Trust
Christchurch and wider Canterbury
He Pikinga Waiora is a kaupapa Māori programme in Christchurch that supports tamariki, rangatahi and whānau to build stronger connections, a sense of belonging and resilience.
The initiative combines practical support, skill-building and cultural connection to help tamariki and rangatahi manage their emotions, make safer choices and reconnect with education and positive opportunities. It will support up to 250 tamariki and rangatahi over four years.
Demonstration initiatives
Three demonstration initiatives were announced in May 2025. These initiatives were selected to provide tangible examples of the social investment approach. They will enable commissioners to test new outcomes-based agreements, data sharing approaches and protocols, and impact analysis and reporting, before scaling these approaches.
Early Years Support – Autism New Zealand
Early identification and support for whānau and educators to understand the needs of autistic children and children showing signs of autism. The programme will provide support for around 200 (or 50 per year) children. Whānau receive intensive support with workshops, home visits and coaching to learn ways to support their child. Educators and other professionals in the child’s education setting are also provided training and support. There is on-going support from age two for at home and in Early Childhood Education, including transition to school and building life skills.
This investment will test evaluation of cutting-edge identification and support services for families of young children showing early signs of autism. If successful, this initiative could change the support for hundreds of families.
Multi-Systemic Therapy for youth – Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is an evidence-based, family driven intervention focused on reducing a young person’s anti-social or problematic behaviour. The behaviours addressed might include truancy, substance use, criminal offending, or violence at home or in the community. MST Therapists work with families, several times each week for 12-20 weeks. Support can be delivered in people’s homes, at their school or in community spaces. Outside of the Therapists visits, the service ensures someone from the team is available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Multi Systemic Therapy aims to:
- create long term sustainable changes to improve family relationships
- decrease a young person’s alcohol or other substance use
- improve a young person’s education, job or training opportunities
- involve youth in positive activities
- address offending behaviour and reduce the risk of youth entering the justice system
This investment will test robust evaluation of the impact of youth and family support scheme (multi-systemic therapy) across multiple outcomes – including reduction in youth offending. This scheme will act as a benchmark.
He Piringa Whare – Te Tihi o Ruahine
An alliance of nine hapū, iwi and Māori organisations and providers supporting over 130 families at a time with warmth, creativity, and determination – delivering a wraparound service that support whānau aspirations for – stable housing, education, training and employment, and many others beside.
This investment is testing a wraparound family support service that empowers families to overcome a range of challenges to achieve their goals and enables them to play an active part in developing local family wellbeing initiatives. It will also help reshape how local public services are delivered so that they work better for all families.