Social Security Act 2018, ss 43
An Orphan’s Benefit is paid to the caregiver of a child if each of the child’s parents is dead, or can’t be found, or has a serious long-term disability so that they are unable to care for the child.
The caregiver must be at least 18, and the child must be under 18.
There are also specific residency requirements:
the child must be both resident and present in New Zealand, or
the caregiver must have been resident and present continuously for at least 12 months.