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Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People View our
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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: Capital Support (Wellington/Kāpiti)

NASC: Your Way | Kia Roha (Hutt Valley) 

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. 

Karahands 

Family-based respite service for children and young people. 

Laura Ferguson Trust 

Overnight respite for adults with physical disabilities in Lower Hutt. 

MASH Trust 

Overnight respite for adults in Lower Hutt. 

Spectrum Care 

Overnight respite for children and young people in Lower Hutt and Porirua/Mana. 

St John of God 

Overnight respite for adults with physical disabilities in Karori. 

Weekday activities

CCS Disability Action 

Weekday activities for adults. 

Laura Fergusson Trust 

Short term respite care for adults with physical disabilities. 

Manaaki Ability Trust 

Weekday activities for adults. 

MASH Trust – Living Plus and Bluegum Road 

Daytime activities for adults in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Kapiti. 

Recreate

Life changing experiences for young people with disabilities.

Spectrum Care Trust Board 

A wide range of weekday activities for children, youth and adults in central Wellington. 

Thumbs up Trust 

Weekday activities for adults with intellectual disabilities. 

Whitford Brown Community Trust 

Weekday activities for adults. 

Out of school care and early childhood education

Spectrum Care 

School holiday programme in Lower Hutt and Porirua. Suitable for children with disabilities. 

Victoria University: The Autism Clinic

Works to develop and evaluate best practice early interventions for young autistic children in New Zealand.

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. 

Autism Intervention Trust

School holiday programs and weekend gym classes for kids 5-19 who are autistic.

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. 

Sporting, social and recreational activities

Boccia New Zealand 

Boccia New Zealand promotes and supports the sport of boccia among all people with a physical disability throughout New Zealand. 

dsport

dsport are a long-standing organisation dedicated to providing inclusive sporting, social, and recreational activities for individuals across the Wellington Region.

Everybody Cool Lives Here 

Drama for people of all abilities. 

Fulton Swim School 

Swimming lessons in Upper Hutt catering for children with special needs. 

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. 

ISADD 

Skills development for people with autism. 

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. 

Sailability  

Inclusive sailing programmes that meet the individual needs of the sailor.

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. 

StarJam 

Music and dance workshops for young people with disabilities. 

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. 

Emerge Aotearoa

Emerge Aotearoa provides a wide range of community-based services including, day activities, employment support, flexible disability support and respite support. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Neighbourly 

An online community to help you connect with people in your community who would like to offer support or care.