Barnardos New Zealand

What does Barnardos New Zealand do?
It provides early childhood education, child protection and family support services, parenting programs, and children's counselling across New Zealand as the country's largest children's charity.

Is Barnardos publicly traded?
No. Barnardos is a registered charitable trust with no shares or owners.

Who founded Barnardos New Zealand?
New Zealand supporters of the Barnardo's mission established the autonomous NZ charity in 1973. The wider Barnardo's heritage began with Dr Thomas Barnardo's London charity of 1866.

Where is Barnardos headquartered?
The national office is in Wellington, New Zealand, with services delivered through regional teams nationwide.

What is Barnardos' annual income?
FY2025 income was NZ$59.354 million against expenditure of NZ$60.568 million.

Who leads Barnardos?
Matt Reid has been chief executive since July 2023, reporting to a board of trustees.

Barnardos New Zealand was established in 1973 by New Zealand supporters of the Barnardo's mission, creating an autonomous charity rather than a branch of the UK body. It developed services for NZ communities, initially around residential and foster care for children.

Over five decades it shifted toward preventative and community-based services: early childhood education through centres and home-based care, family support and parenting programs, specialist children's counselling, and advocacy on child poverty and protection policy.

Matt Reid became chief executive in July 2023. Under his leadership the charity has focused on early intervention and sustainable funding, reporting FY2025 income of NZ$59.354 million.

The charity operates under Charities Services oversight and publishes annual reports. It has periodically advocated publicly on child poverty and protection funding, sometimes in tension with government policy positions. No material controversies or sanctions are on record.