Eight-year-old Corey Scott looks like any other primary school youngster. He gets home from school and is quick to grab his remote control car and let it burn around his bedroom floor. He shows me the cool things he can do with the front wheels and recites the results of his team's final game of soccer last weekend.
Yet Corey is among a growing number of Kiwi kids who are being raised by their grandparents.
It has been a long and challenging journey for Corey's grandmother Viv Needham _ or Nana Mum, as she calls herself.
While Viv has spent three years trying to gain custody of Corey, people have been noticing a positive difference in Corey's personality and attitude more than a year on.
``He has love, boundaries, consequences and morals now,'' says Viv.
Viv is looking to establish a support group for other grandparents raising their grandchildren in the Taupo and Turangi area.
Viv says the decision to take over custody of Corey was a big one, but one she couldn't turn her back on.
``It would be so easy to say, `I'm not going to do anything', but you can't walk away either.
``These kids didn't ask to be put where they are and they deserve a decent chance in life.''
Viv is now the Turangi and Taupo Area Support co-ordinator for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust and she is hoping the formation of a support group will not only provide grandparents with an opportunity to share information and a chance to network, but she's also keen to organise family trips and outings.
Viv is honest about the fact that she didn't think she would be looking after an 8-year-old at this stage in her life, but she knows there are many others like her across New Zealand.
``Corey says to people, `this is my nana _ she's taken over my mum's job'.''
Financially, Viv says the decision to take on Corey has been tough.
She has had to give up her job and relocate and is making do with what she has got, but it's not easy.
``Financially it can be quite stressful. Grandparents raising grandchildren need to know what they are entitled to,'' she says.
She is also hoping local businesses may show their support by way of discounted admission prices to local attractions.
Viv says there are many grandparents raising their grandchildren, largely due to a family breakdown where the biological parents are not able to look after their children.
Many of the children have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect.
The grandparents who take on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren are often in need of help and support.
They take on this responsibility because they believe that the best place for these children to be brought up is within the family.
The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust New Zealand is a charitable organisation operating throughout New Zealand and provides information, support, advice and advocacy for grandparents raising their grandchildren/kin.
At present, the trust has more than 5000 members and a network of 48 support groups and informal coffee groups, from Kaitaia to Invercargill.
Viv says the most rewarding aspect of raising Corey is watching him become something beautiful.
``Nothing good comes easy, but to see him blossom is so rewarding,'' she says.
``These children are growing up with different values _ values from the older generation,'' she says.
Anyone interested in receiving more information about the trust can visit the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust website at www.grg.org.nz.
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