Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kāpiti Coast respite options
A ‘respite option’ is any support or service that gives you a break from your caring responsibilities. This can be a break away or a break in your home.
Below is a directory of information on some of the services available in your region that could help you take a break. You can choose the respite options that best suit you and your family. As well as the services listed here, you also have the choice to ask friends or family for help or use other supports or services.
A Needs Assessment and Coordination Service or NASC in your region can help you get funding for respite and find respite options that will work best for you.
We are currently updating the content on this page. To report inaccurate or incorrect information email communications@whaikaha.govt.nz
- NASC
- Overnight respite
- Weekday activities
- Out of school care and early childhood education
- Sporting, social and recreational activities
- Relief carers, support workers and natural supports
NASC: Capital Support (Wellington/Kāpiti)
Kenepuru Hospital, Raiha Street, Porirua 5022
Phone: (04) 230 6400
Email: capitalsupport@ccdhb.org.nz
Website: NASC Capital Support external URL
NASC: Your Way | Kia Roha (Hutt Valley)
5 Bouverie St, Petone 5012
Phone: (04) 569 3102
Email: referrals@yourwaykiaroha.nz
Website: Your Way | Kia Roha external URL
Overnight respite
Aged residential care
Overnight respite for adults with disabilities may be available in an aged residential care facility.
Please contact your NASC for more information.
Community residential houses
Overnight respite for adults with disabilities may be available in an established home for adults with disabilities.
Please contact your NASC to find out more.
Hearth Trust
Short term overnight respite for adults available in Lower Hutt.
Email: hearthtrust@outlook.co.nz
Website: www.hearthtrust.co.nz external URL
Karahands
Family-based respite service for children and young people.
Website: karahands.co.nz
external URL
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaraHands external URL
Laura Ferguson Trust
Overnight respite for adults with physical disabilities in Lower Hutt.
Website: www.lft.org.nz external URL
MASH Trust
Overnight respite for adults in Lower Hutt.
Website: mashtrust.org.nz external URL
Spectrum Care
Overnight respite for children and young people in Lower Hutt and Porirua/Mana.
Website: www.spectrumcare.org.nz external URL
St John of God
Overnight respite for adults with physical disabilities in Karori.
Website: St John of God Karori external URL
Weekday activities
CCS Disability Action
Weekday activities for adults.
Phone: 0800 227 2255
Laura Fergusson Trust
Short term respite care for adults with physical disabilities.
18 Laura Fergusson Grove, Naenae Phone: (04) 567 6024 Email: reception@lft.org.nz
Manaaki Ability Trust
Weekday activities for adults.
60 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt Phone: (04) 569 3091 Website: www.manaakiabilitytrust.org.nz external URL
MASH Trust – Living Plus and Bluegum Road
Daytime activities for adults in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Kapiti.
Phone: (04) 974 8549 Website: www.mashtrust.org.nz external URL
Recreate
Life changing experiences for young people with disabilities.
Phone: (09) 638 5364Website: www.recreate.org.nz external URL
Spectrum Care Trust Board
A wide range of weekday activities for children, youth and adults in central Wellington.
Phone: (09) 634 3790 Email: info@spectrumcare.org.nz Website: www.spectrumcare.org.nz external URL
Thumbs up Trust
Weekday activities for adults with intellectual disabilities.
5 Elizabeth St, Petone, 5012 Phone: (04) 586 8069 Email: manager@thumbsuptrust.org.nz Website: thumbsuptrust.org.nz external URL
Whitford Brown Community Trust
Weekday activities for adults.
Cnr Kāpiti Cres & Mana Ave, Titahi Bay, Porirua 5022 Phone: (04) 236 8944 Email: whitfordbrown@xtra.co.nz Website: Whitford Brown Community Trust external URL
Out of school care and early childhood education
Spectrum Care
School holiday programme in Lower Hutt and Porirua. Suitable for children with disabilities.
Phone: 0508 628 448
Email: SchoolHolidayProgramme@spectrumcare.org.nz
Website: www.spectrumcare.org.nz external URL
Victoria University: The Autism Clinic
Works to develop and evaluate best practice early interventions for young autistic children in New Zealand.
Website: The Autism Clinic external URL
Before and after school care, school holiday programmes
A number of organisations provide out-of-school care, which includes before and after school and during the school holidays. Some mainstream services will have experience and skills in supporting children with disabilities.
Website: www.familyservices.govt.nz/directory external URL
Autism Intervention Trust
School holiday programs and weekend gym classes for kids 5-19 who are autistic.
Website: www.autisminterventiontrust.org.nz/holiday-program external URL
In-home childcare and early childhood education
Early childhood education (ECE) provides education and care for children before they go to primary school. There are many different types of early childhood education providers, including daycare centres, kindergartens, home-based childcare, kōhanga reo nannies, playcentre and play groups. Find all types of early childhood education in your community from the website below.
Website: www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-an-els external URL
Sporting, social and recreational activities
Everybody Cool Lives Here
Drama for people of all abilities.
Email: contact@everybodycoolliveshere.com
Fulton Swim School
Swimming lessons in Upper Hutt catering for children with special needs.
Website: https://www.fultonswimschool.co.nz/ external URL
ISADD
Skills development for people with autism.
Website: www.isadd.org external URL
StarJam
Music and dance workshops for young people with disabilities.
PO Box 27111, Marion Square, Wellington 6011 Phone: (04) 212 4971 Email: info@starjam.org
Boccia New Zealand
Boccia New Zealand promotes and supports the sport of boccia among all people with a physical disability throughout New Zealand.
Website: www.boccia.org.nz external URL
Halberg AllSports
The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation was founded by Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg in 1963 to enhance the lives of physically disabled New Zealanders by enabling them to participate in sport and recreation.
Website: www.halbergallsports.co.nz external URL
New Zealand Riding for the Disabled
New Zealand Riding for the Disabled (NZRDA) provides opportunities for anyone with a disability to enjoy safe, stimulating and therapeutic horse riding and horse-related activities.
Phone: (04) 234 6090 Email: admin@rda.org.nz Website: www.rda.org.nz external URL
Special Olympics
Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability.
Phone: (04) 560 0360 Email: admin@specialolympics.org.nz Website: www.specialolympics.org.nz external URL
Sailability
Inclusive sailing programmes that meet the individual needs of the sailor.
Website: Sailability Wellington external URL
More information about inclusive sailing: www.yachtingnz.org.nz/recreational/sailors-with-a-disability external URL
Relief carers, support workers and natural supports
Care on Call
Care on Call works with families to design in-home support care that is right for each family. Care on Call has home care help in Wellington City, the Wairarapa, Hutt Valley and all along the Kāpiti Coast. They coordinate home care help services through their local office.
31J Railway Avenue, Alicetown
PO Box 45015, Waterloo, Lower Hutt 5042
Phone: 0800 776 815 or (04) 566 4476
Email: wellington@careoncall.co.nz
Website: www.careoncall.co.nz external URL
Emerge Aotearoa
Emerge Aotearoa provides a wide range of community-based services including, day activities, employment support, flexible disability support and respite support.
Website: emergeaotearoa.org.nz external URL
Family Whānau Support
A support worker ‘buddy’ who offers regular respite hours, either at home or in the community.
Please contact your NASC for more information.
Geneva Healthcare
Geneva Healthcare can provide flexible options for support.
Phone: 0800 436 382
Email: info@genevahealth.com
Teacher aides
Ask local schools if you’re able to advertise to their teacher aide staff for support during the school holidays or for an evening out.
Rockmybaby
Rockmybaby® offer childcare recruitment services.
Phone: 0800 762 569
Email: info@rockmybaby.co.nz
Website: www.rockmybaby.co.nz external URL
MyCare
An online platform where the people willing to help can meet the people needing help. Find and employ support workers and volunteers on a secure website.
Phone: 0800 677 700
Email: hello@mycare.co.nz
Website: www.mycare.co.nz external URL
Neighbourly
An online community to help you connect with people in your community who would like to offer support or care.
Website: www.neighbourly.co.nz external URL