This bill seeks to improve financial assistance for caregivers of children who are unable to be cared for by their parents. The proposals in the bill extend financial assistance to support children being cared for outside of the State care system. And, whether a child is inside the State care system or outside the State care system, I believe that there should be greater equity in the payments given to their caregivers. Around 15,000 people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand have stepped up to take on the day-to-day care of children whose parents are unable to care for them. This may be for reasons such as the child's parents have passed away, or there's been a significant breakdown in their immediate family and the child's parents are no longer able to care for them. 