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Family members and friends caring for sick or disabled people may get welfare benefits under a new "carers' strategy" due to be launched next year.
In an unusual move, Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson said yesterday that the Government would work jointly with the non-profit Carers Alliance to develop the strategy over the next year.
The alliance, representing 39 groups such as Age Concern and the Cancer Society, says the strategy is needed because New Zealand's ageing population means more people have to care for sick and infirm relatives.
A review commissioned by the alliance last year found that New Zealand was unusual in providing no specific allowance or benefit for carers other than the domestic purposes benefit for care of the sick and infirm.
This is available only to people caring fulltime at home for someone, other than their partner, who would otherwise need hospital care.
At the end of last month only 4317 people were receiving the benefit. But last year's Census found that 370,740 people, or 13 per cent of all those aged 15 or over, were caring for ill or disabled people on an unpaid basis.
Fifteen per cent of women and 10 per cent of men aged 15 and over were caring for the ill or disabled. Roughly half of the carers lived in the same home as the people they cared for, and half in another home.
In Britain, where the Blair Government introduced a carers strategy in 1999, an invalid care allowance is paid to anyone caring for more than 35 hours a week for someone getting mid- or high-level disability allowances.
Australia provides an income-tested carer payment or a non-income-tested carer allowance.
The New Zealand review stopped short of recommending a specific allowance here, but said: "There is more work to be done about the assumption that carers can and will provide care services independently of Government-funded financial and social support."
Ms Dyson said New Zealand carers had identified the need to look at improving support for and information about caring and "helping carers to combine employment and caring responsibilities or to make the transition to paid employment once their family circumstances allow".
Carers New Zealand director Laurie Hilsgen welcomed the Government's decision to produce a strategy jointly with the non-profit agencies.
"We asked that the Government not do the strategy in the way it usually does - to appoint its own people and they would consult with us ... We wanted the Carers Alliance to be the Government's partner to draft the consultation document and host the meetings around New Zealand."
She said a discussion document would be issued mid-year.
Former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves opened a two-day "carers' summit" in Wellington yesterday. He announced the formation of a new network for Maori carers, the Aotearoa Maori Whanau Carers Network, convened by former Maori Women's Welfare League president Druis Barrett.
