Despite shutting its doors for good today, counselling provider Relationships Aotearoa is still concerned its patients will be passed to only one other provider.

The longstanding agency was shuttered by the Ministry of Social Development last month citing financial concerns.

Relationships Aotearoa (RA) was believed to provide services to around 60,000 New Zealanders, dealing with cases from the courts, police , and CYFS. They also helped treat 30,000 Cantabrians for earthquake-related trauma.

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Five agencies are poised to take over some of RA's clients and staff: Barnados, Family Works, Lifeline, Vitae, and Stand Children's Services.

RA's Principal Strategic Advisor Cary Hayward believes Stand needs far more support.

"Vitae is there working our staff and the other provider is there to pick up contractors," Hayward said. "Stand is the primary provider. They're taking some risks so that that capability is not lost to the sector."

But Stand's chief executive Dr Fiona Inkpen insists it's not alone, and the extra work will be added in to its existing government contract.

Tomorrow clients will have somewhere to go, she said.

"They'll be offered to be able to continue with their counsellor so long as that counsellor has transferred to us. If they haven't, there will be enough clinical staff to ensure if they've lost their counsellor in the process they can link up with a new counsellor."

Inkpen said it was normal to not have a new government contract and the extra work will be added on to existing paperwork.

"We're certainly not doing it on our own...[other agencies] are on the sidelines wanting to help. Our relationship with Relationships Aotearoa has been very positive and they've been working well with us."

Relationships Aotearoa was drawn into a war of words with the Ministry of Social Development on the eve of the closure.

Ministry of Social Development chief executive Murray Edridge retorted to allegations more funding was promised to RA before the closedown, calling it "mischievous nonsense".

He also said that RA's refusal to hand over confidential client files - including those of sexual abuse and domestic violence victims - wasn't an obstacle.

Cary Hayward defended the refusal, saying they're working under privacy laws.

"[Edridge's] comments are very unreasonable. We gave MSD all the information that we legally could over two weeks ago," he said.

"The information we're not handing over we cannot release because it would be breaking the law."