Kaikaranga

What Kaikaranga does

Kaikaranga is a New Zealand not-for-profit organization headquartered in Auckland and operating as a fully-owned subsidiary of Taikura Trust, from which it was spun off in March 2025. It is Auckland's largest Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) provider for the disability sector, delivering free needs assessments, support planning, and service coordination to disabled people under 65 (physical, intellectual, sensory disability, or autism) across the greater Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau catchment. Services are government-funded, principally through the Ministry of Social Development's Disability Support Services (DSS), with additional revenue from ACC's Way Finders navigation program and a Social Investment Agency Pathway One grant (2025 award, four-year term).

Its core products comprise NASC needs assessment and coordination; Way Finders (ACC navigation); contracted support services spanning behavioural support, household management, personal care, supported living, residential care, and respite; flexible funding administration (Carer Support, Choices in Community Living, Individualised Funding); and the MSD Community Connection Service for crisis/emergency response. Sub-products include the Kaituhono connector case-manager model and Te Waharoa (Info Gateway) resource portal. A new SIA-funded Tamariki Support Initiative, launching 2026, extends the mandate into children under 13 at high risk of school disengagement (target: 400-500 children over four years).

Technology is operations-light: no proprietary core platform is described; delivery is supported by online referral forms, phone/webchat intake, a Mailchimp-managed newsletter, and standard website/social channels. The only AI linkage is indirect, through board member Dr. Arash Tayebi's co-founding of Kara Technologies, which produces AI-driven NZSL/ASL avatar translation (2024 NZ Hi-Tech Award winner). The go-to-market is referral-driven from GPs, Starship Hospital, Work and Income, Oranga Tamariki, and self-referral; pricing is free to eligible end-users, with revenue arriving entirely through government contracts and grants.

Name

Kaikaranga

Legal name

Kaikaranga

Website

https://kaikaranga.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kaikaranga is Auckland's largest disability Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) provider, delivering free needs assessments, service coordination, and ACC navigation to disabled people under 65 across greater Auckland, funded by the Ministry of Social Development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG), Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Needs assessment
• Service coordination
• Disability navigation
• Support coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Disability Support Services: Kaikaranga provides free disability support services funded by the Ministry of Social Development through Disability Support Services (DSS). As a NASC (Needs Assessment and Service Coordination) provider, services are free to eligible disabled people under 65 in greater Auckland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kaikaranga provides free Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) services for disabled people under 65 in greater Auckland, acting as a gateway to Ministry of Social Development funded disability supports. The organization also delivers Way Finders navigation for ACC clients, contracted support services (behavioural support, household management, personal care, supported living, residential support, respite), flexible funding options (Carer Support, CICL, Individualised Funding), and the MSD Community Connection Service for emergency support. A new SIA-funded Tamariki Support Initiative will launch in 2026.

Product overview

Kaikaranga is Auckland's largest disability Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) provider, offering a comprehensive suite of support services for disabled people and their families. The core offerings include NASC Services (needs assessment and service coordination), Way Finders (ACC navigation), Contracted Support Services (behavioural support, household management, personal care, supported living, residential support, respite), and Flexible Support options (Carer Support, CICL, Individualised Funding). Additional services include the MSD Community Connection Service for emergency support and a new Tamariki Support Initiative launching in 2026. The organization also provides resource access through its Info Gateway (Te Waharoa) portal. Services are primarily focused on greater Auckland for people under 65 with disabilities, funded by Ministry of Social Development through Disability Support Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NASC Services (Needs Assessment and Service Coordination) Free needs assessment and service coordination for disabled people under 65 in greater Auckland with physical, intellectual, sensory disability or autism. Acts as a gateway to Ministry of Social Development funded disability supports.
• Way Finders Navigation service helping people whose experience with ACC hasn't been smooth, guiding them through what ACC can cover and simplifying access to ACC support for people with disability caused by accidents or injuries.
• Contracted Support Services Direct support services provided by organisations contracted by Ministry of Social Development, including behavioural support, household management, personal care, supported living, residential support, and respite.
• Flexible Support (Carer Support, CICL, Individualised Funding) Budget-controlled funding options giving disabled people choice and control, including Carer Support, Choices in Community Living (CICL), and Individualised Funding (IF) for managing disability services.
• MSD Community Connection Service Emergency support service connecting disabled people and whānau with funding pathways during crises such as Covid, floods and storms. Expanded from South Auckland to cover the entire Auckland region.
• Tamariki Support Initiative Four-year SIA-funded programme supporting children under 13 at high risk of school disengagement. Uses Kaituhono connectors and system-level Enablers to improve cross-agency collaboration and educational outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• New SIA-funded initiative to engage 150 tamariki/whānau per year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Taikura TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Taikura Trust is Kaikaranga's parent organization - a fully-owned subsidiary. Taikura Trust continues in the background supporting Kaikaranga while pursuing its own objectives around disability leadership and system change. Taikura Trust will focus more intently on charitable purposes and giving back to communities.
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder through Disability Support Services (DSS). MSD funds the NASC services and disability supports that Kaikaranga coordinates. Partnership also includes MSD Community Connection Service which expanded from South Auckland to cover the entire region.
• ACCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC is a key partner. Kaikaranga provides Way Finders navigation service to help people whose experience with ACC hasn't been smooth, simplifying how ACC can help disabled people.
• Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner in the disability sector, working to make Aotearoa New Zealand an inclusive and accessible society.
• Te Puni Kokiri - Ministry of Māori DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry partner supporting Māori development, aligning with Kaikaranga's commitment to Māori and Pacific communities.
• Health New Zealand (Health NZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth NZ manages day-to-day Carer Support claims and is a key partner in the broader disability support system.
• Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for child-focused services. Kaikaranga works alongside Oranga Tamariki to ensure supports connect and work well together for disabled children and their families.
• Te Puna AonuiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the disability support sector.
• Ara Poutama Aoetearoa - Department of CorrectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Corrections partnership for cross-system support coordination.
• Kara TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Kaikaranga board member Dr. Arash Tayebi. Kara Technologies develops AI-powered sign language translation using hyper-realistic digital humans. Partnership represents innovation in accessibility technology.
• One in SixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational disability employment resource hub led by NZDEN and Whaikaha. Kaikaranga was featured by One in Six for supporting inclusive employment in Aotearoa.
• New Zealand Disability Employers' Network (NZDEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaikaranga has been a member of NZDEN for more than seven years and was the first disability organisation accredited by the network. NZDEN leads the One in Six national disability employment resource hub.
• Various disability service providerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKaikaranga connects clients with contracted providers including: Creative Abilities (residential care), Renaissance (support services), Choice in Community Living (CICL providers), Explore (behavioural support), and many others for household management, personal care, respite, and supported living.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spectrum Care: Auckland-based disability support provider (formerly part of IDEA Services) delivering residential, respite, and community support for people with intellectual disability and autism. Comparable as an Auckland MSD-funded disability service provider that Kaikaranga helps coordinate clients toward.
• Emerge Aotearoa: Major NZ disability and mental health support provider offering residential, community, and behavioural support services across multiple regions. Comparable as a contracted provider of Ministry of Social Development-funded disability supports, overlapping with Kaikaranga's contracted support categories.
• CCS Disability Action: One of New Zealand's largest disability support and advocacy organisations, providing information, advocacy, and support services across the country. Directly comparable as a national disability NASC/coordination peer to Kaikaranga's Auckland-focused NASC.
• IDEA Services: Large NZ disability support provider (IHC-affiliated) offering residential, vocational, and community services for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a contracted disability support provider within the same MSD funding ecosystem.
• Blind Low Vision NZ: National disability organisation providing services for blind, deafblind, and low-vision New Zealanders. Comparable as a disability-specific service provider operating under similar MSD/government funding arrangements.
• Explore Specialist Advice: Auckland-based specialist behaviour support service for disabled people. Currently a contracted provider for Kaikaranga, making it a direct peer in the support-coordination ecosystem with overlapping client base.
• Te Roopu Taurima: Māori disability provider offering residential and community support services to whānau with disabilities. Comparable as a culturally grounded disability support provider operating in the same MSD-funded ecosystem.
• Manawanui Whaikaha: Nationwide Individualised Funding (IF) host and disability support coordinator. Comparable as a peer NASC-adjacent IF/Carer Support administration provider operating under Whaikaha/Ministry of Disabled People contracts.

Regional players

• Life Unlimited: NZ disability information and advisory service, primarily lower North Island-based. Comparable as a peer needs-assessment/information service but operating in a different geographic region from Kaikaranga.

Broad incumbents

• Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People: New Zealand government ministry overseeing disability policy and funding. Not a commercial peer, but the policy and funding counterparty that shapes Kaikaranga's operating environment; comparable in the sense of being the system architect Kaikaranga serves within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kaikaranga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaikaranga

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Kaikaranga