The Government is pledging extra help for members of extended families who are raising children in place of birth parents, to allow the families to have a break.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett wants to set up holiday-style camps for children being brought up in what are known as 'kin care' arrangements.
Ms Bennett is considering funding the camps using an existing subsidy, which helps families with the costs of care before school and after school, and holiday programmes.
Massey University Honorary Research Associate Jill Worrall says many of these children have complex problems, such as attachment disorders, and camps will not fully address the problem.
She believes informal care arrangements between families in similar situations would work better.
