Changing Roles

Most grandparents are faring well, but a small number are struggling – in particular grandparents raising grandchildren – according to new research.

Changing Roles – The pleasures and pressures of being a grandparent in New Zealand, paints an intricate picture of grandparents’ lives, views, and needs.

Grandparents are as varied and diverse in their identities and family structures as are families themselves - therefore their needs are changing in many ways. For example, not all grandparents are older people. Some first become grandparents in their 30s. Grandparents may be juggling paid work and caregiving responsibilities, as well as other interests and commitments.

Māori grandparents are thriving, although they may have multiple demands on their time; they love their role despite the pressures. Māori, Samoan and Korean grandparents spoke about their responsibility and desire to share language skills, cultural traditions and beliefs with their grandchildren. NZ European/Pakeha grandparents also told us about the many different ways in which they are involved in their grandchildren's lives.

Two pieces of research carried out by UMR for the Families Commission contributed to this report: Changing roles of grandparents (a report based on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,178 grandparents) and Questions in the June 2009 Omnibus Survey about the age of becoming a grandparent.