VOYCE

What VOYCE does

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is a New Zealand–registered charity (CC54306) founded in 2017 that operates as the only national advocacy organization specifically mandated to amplify the voices of care-experienced children and young people (pēpi, tamariki, rangatahi) in the Aotearoa state care system. The organization delivers a portfolio of human-centered services: one-on-one kaiwhakamana (advocacy) support for individual care decisions, tūhono connection events for peer support, the annual Kōkiri – The Future Speaks national conference, the biennial State of Care report, and the co-developed Kia Tika, Kia Pono ethical framework. It maintains nine regional offices spanning both the North and South Islands (Auckland headquarters plus Wellington, Christchurch, Hastings, Kaikohe, Papamoa, Whangārei, Nelson, and Dunedin), with a 11–50 employee headcount, and a free 0800 4 VOYCE intake line.

The organization has no proprietary technology stack — its operating model rests on direct service delivery, written publications, and event programming rather than software products. Revenue is sourced primarily from a baseline government appropriation via Oranga Tamariki supplemented by philanthropic partnerships (Foundation North, Tindall, Todd, Rata, Te Rourou One Aotearoa, Auckland Foundation), individual donations, an endowment fund administered by Auckland Foundation, and modest conference registration fees. The organization is currently managing a disclosed NZ$2.37 million funding shortfall after not being invited to submit further Budget bids, which it has absorbed through fiscal restraint, reserves, and philanthropic support.

VOYCE's strategic positioning is anchored in a tripartite founding partnership between government, philanthropy, and the community sector, combined with a leadership and advocacy workforce predominantly composed of care-experienced individuals. Its defensibility derives from regulatory embedding with Oranga Tamariki, a national physical footprint, and accumulated reputational assets such as the Six Promises framework and State of Care scorecard. It is not a venture- or equity-backed entity: there are no shareholders, no parent company, and no M&A activity; growth is constrained by the public-funding environment rather than capital markets.

Name

VOYCE

Legal name

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai

Website

https://voyce.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is a New Zealand nonprofit founded in 2017 that advocates for care-experienced children and young people (pēpi, tamariki, rangatahi) in the state care system through one-on-one advocacy, nationwide connection events, and policy research, operating from nine regional offices across Aotearoa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Youth Advocacy

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care (BPAGACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Child advocacy services
• Youth advocacy
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Care-experienced youth
• Community sector services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Baseline government funding delivered through an appropriation via Oranga Tamariki. Established in 2017 through partnership between government, philanthropy and community sector. Funding increased modestly between 2022 and 2024 but organization has not been invited to submit further Budget bids, creating a $2.37 million shortfall.
2. Philanthropic Partnerships: Funding from philanthropic partners including Foundation North, The Tindall Foundation, Todd Foundation, Rata Foundation, and others who support VOYCE's mahi and enable programs beyond government-funded activities.
3. Donations: Cash donations to bank account; donations used to support pēpi, tamariki and rangatahi in care, and provide meaningful experiences and connections such as concert tickets, movie tickets, sports gear, Christmas presents.
4. Endowment Fund: VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai Endowment Fund established with Auckland Foundation to ensure mission continues for generations. Donors can contribute through one-time or recurring donations and bequests.
5. Conference Revenue: National conference Kōkiri generates revenue through registration fees: Community/NGO Sector $450, Government/State Sector $550, Young Person/Student $100 (prices exclude GST).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is an Auckland-based nonprofit organization founded in 2017 that advocates for care-experienced children and young people (tamariki and rangatahi) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The organization delivers independent advocacy services, regional connection events, the Kōkiri national conference, publishes the State of Care Report (Kei te rongo koe?), and operates the Kia Tika, Kia Pono ethical framework to amplify the voices of young people in care.

Product overview

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is a nonprofit advocacy organization (registered charity CC54306) founded in 2017 that provides a suite of services to amplify the voices of care-experienced pēpi, tamariki, and rangatahi in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its core offerings include: Kaiwhakamana (one-on-one advocacy) services that help young people have their voices heard in care decisions; Tūhono (connection events) that bring young people in care together across the country; the annual Kōkiri national conference for systemic care reform; the biennial State of Care Report (Kei te rongo koe?) that scores government performance on Six Promises; and the Kia Tika, Kia Pono ethical framework for engaging with care-experienced young people. The organization does not operate as a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kaiwhakamana (Advocacy Services) Independent advocacy service delivered to care-experienced children and young people (tamariki and rangatahi) in Aotearoa New Zealand, helping them have their voices heard in decisions affecting their care.
• Tūhono (Connection Events) Regional connection events designed to bring care-experienced children and young people together to share experiences, reduce isolation, and build supportive peer networks.
• Kōkiri – The Future Speaks (National Conference) Annual national conference bringing together care-experienced young people, government agencies, care providers, and community sector stakeholders to shape the future of care in Aotearoa.
• State of Care Report (Kei te rongo koe?) Annual flagship research publication that captures the lived experiences of care-experienced young people and reports on the state of the care system in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Kia Tika, Kia Pono (Ethical Framework) An ethical framework developed by VOYCE to guide advocacy practice, embed Te Ao Māori and child-rights principles, and shape how the care sector engages with care-experienced young people.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 submissions and 140+ official reports analyzed in inaugural State of Care report
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sport Hawke's BayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partnered with VOYCE to deliver Waka Ama tūhono event for care-experienced rangatahi. Provided support enabling event for young people.
• Heretaunga Ararau o Ngāti Kahungunu Waka Ama RōpūminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Waka Ama club partnered with VOYCE to host Waka Ama sessions for rangatahi. Club was impressed and offered ongoing classes.
• Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization supporting caregivers. Referenced on VOYCE website as a resource for adults supporting care-experienced young people.
• Caring Families AotearoaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization for caregivers. Listed as resource for adults supporting care-experienced young people.
• Barnardos AotearoaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization working with children and families. Listed as resource for adults supporting care-experienced young people.
• Open Home FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization in child and family services. Listed as resource for adults supporting care-experienced young people.
• Family StartminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly intervention service supporting families. Listed as resource for adults supporting care-experienced young people.
• Quest WellingtonminorOthersConference accommodation partner for Kōkiri 2026. Offers discounted rates at multiple Quest locations in Wellington area using promo code.
• Oranga TamarikicoreOthersGovernment agency responsible for children in care. VOYCE established in 2017 with baseline government funding delivered through appropriation via Oranga Tamariki. Key stakeholder in care system.
• CREATE Foundation (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian organization representing children and young people in out-of-home care. Participated in Kōkiri 2026 conference with workshops and young consultants.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barnardos Aotearoa: One of NZ's largest children's charities, providing fostering, family support and advocacy services. Overlaps with VOYCE on the NZ care-experienced population but is a broader service provider (direct service delivery vs. pure advocacy).
• Open Home Foundation: NZ基督教慈善机构providing fostering, social work, and family services across the country. Listed as a VOYCE partner and serves overlapping populations of children in care in the same national geography, though with a service-delivery rather than advocacy focus.
• National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS): UK independent charity providing advocacy and participation services to children and young people, including those in care. Directly comparable to VOYCE in its independent (non-governmental) advocacy mandate for looked-after children and young people.
• CREATE Foundation: Australia's peak national consumer body for children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. Closely comparable to VOYCE in mission (youth-led advocacy), geographic focus (single country), and operating model (youth councils, connection events, policy submissions). Already engaged with VOYCE via Kōkiri 2026.
• FosterClub: US national network for young people with foster care experience, focused on leadership development, advocacy training, and amplifying foster youth voice. Operates a similar 'lived-experience-led' model with All-Stars program akin to VOYCE's Regional Youth Councils.

Regional players

• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: NZ support organization for kin and whānau caregivers of children in care. Listed as a VOYCE partner; serves an adjacent segment (caregivers vs. children) in the same national care ecosystem.
• Caring Families Aotearoa: NZ organization supporting caregivers of children in care, with comparable resource and referral functions. Listed as a VOYCE partner; addresses overlapping population from a caregiver-support rather than youth-advocacy angle.

Broad incumbents

• Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children: NZ government agency responsible for children in state care and VOYCE's primary government funder. Largest incumbent in the care system with regulatory and operational authority that dwarfs VOYCE's advocacy role; not a competitor but the central counterparty whose priorities shape VOYCE's funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VOYCEWhakarongoMai
• Instagraminstagram.com/voyceorgnz
• Xx.com/VOYCENZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/voyce-whakarongo-mai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VOYCE