118 | COMMUNITY Hospice Organisation NZ Work-ready stays that feel like home When work takes you on the road, you need accommodation that’s consistent, reliable, and designed to make you feel at home too. 44 LOCATIONS ACROSS NZ AND FIJI See why Quest works for you questapartments.co.nz A timely boost for hospice funding An ongoing priority for Hospice NZ is to ensure that future government funding is directly tailored to need in the community. T T Kim Newth Significant boosts in government funding this year for hospices and specialist paediatric palliative care have been welcomed by Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa – Hospice New Zealand, the national organisation leading and supporting the hospice movement in New Zealand. In May, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced $15.5 million from Budget 2026 would be used to establish a nationally consistent, specialist paediatric palliative care service. The following month, a Health New Zealand funding boost to hospices of $12 million was announced for 2026/27. Hospice New Zealand has worked hard to make the case for improved funding over recent months. A landmark study – Sustainable Funding for Hospice Services, released in March 2025 – highlighted the crucial part hospices have in relieving pressure on the national health system. “That report found that hospice care in New Zealand saves the health system $110 million a year in reduced emergency department visits and hospital admissions, simply by caring for people in their homes,” says Wayne Naylor, CE Hospice NZ. “In addition, hospice care has a huge impact on the wellbeing of families by helping bereaved whānau to cope better and return to work and school sooner.” Wayne is a member of Heath NZ’s National Palliative Care Steering Group. Leading up to this year’s funding announcements, Health NZ also worked directly with Hospice NZ to review hospice services and funding. It found considerable regional variation across the country. “We’re really pleased to now have this $12 million funding uplift – equivalent to a10% uplift for hospice services for 2026/27 – that will not only provide a baseline benefit for all hospices, but will also provide targeted funding to improve access where it’s most needed.” An ongoing priority for Hospice NZ is to ensure that future government funding is directly tailored to need in the community. “We hope next year to see another step change towards achieving this goal in conjunction with Health New Zealand.” Wayne says funding for specialist paediatric palliative care will also help address a pressing need for these services in New Zealand. A common misconception is that most hospice care takes place in a hospice facility. In reality, Wayne says almost all hospice care is in the community and in people’s homes. Of 32 hospice services across New Zealand, only 19 have inpatient units. Hospice care is provided by a range of specialist health providers, including registered nurses, doctors and nurse practitioners, as well as family support practitioners, such as social workers, counsellors, therapeutic care providers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, music and art therapists, and administrative staff. Currently, government funding covers around 65% of total hospice service costs, with the remainder coming from donations, bequests and other charitable sources. Across New Zealand, some 10,000 volunteers lend their support by working in various roles from working in second-hand shops that generate charitable income, to making equipment deliveries. “For the 2024/25 financial year, volunteers in hospices worked over 1.1 million hours, equivalent to $27 million worth or more of labour provided,” says Wayne. Meanwhile, a key event for the sector coming up this November is the Hospice New Zealand Palliative Care Conference in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.
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