What we do . Te Waka Kotahi / Foster care

Te Waka Kotahi / Foster care

Specialist foster care for young people aged 12 to 17

Te Waka Kotahi - we're all in the boat together

Our specialist foster-care programme for young people aged 12 to 17 in the care of Oranga Tamariki provides an opportunity for young people to form positive connections that allow significant changes to occur.

Te Waka Kotahi believes that everyone connected to a young person – including their whānau, foster parent, mentor, social workers, Oranga Tamariki and school or college – is working towards a common goal: to bring this precious young person safely to the shore where they can heal and grow strong.

In all cases, we work with young people and their whānau for one year. During this year the young person lives with a foster parent and goes to school, college or special day programme, depending on their needs.

As well as one-to-one foster care, we also care for up to three young young people at Te Whare Whakapakari, our group home in Tawa.

Interested in becoming a foster parent?

If you think you have the skills to join the team at Te Waka Kotahi by providing care to a young person in your home,  we’d love to hear from you. We have positions available for full-time or part-time (respite) foster parents, as well as roles as youth mentors.

These positions are paid.

To become a full-time or part-time foster parent you will:

  • be currently living in the Wellington region and have stable accommodation and a spare room
  • have no dependent children living with you
  • have a full NZ driver’s license and  your own car and be a confident driver
  • have high personal standards in the care of children
  • have a comfortable, clean, and safe home environment to offer
  • have a high standard of personal health and fitness
  • have excellent written and spoken communication skills

Download our application pack to find out more or to apply to become a foster parent.

Contact our Team Manager Sarah Packman

Resources

Information for Young People

Information for Whanau

Information for Foster Parent and Staff

Information for Schools

Information for OT

The rewards – and challenges – of being a foster parent

Being a foster parent with Te Waka Kotahi, our specialist foster-care programme, isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. But as full-time foster parent Dean Davies points out, it offers plenty of rewards.

Read more

Te Waka Kotahi

P: 04 385 3727 Extension 5

Team Manager: Andrea McKenzie
E: amckenzie@wesleyca.org.nz

6 Hagley St
PORIRUA 5022