Why Hospice Matters
Every person in Aotearoa deserves to die with dignity and compassion. Hospice care supports people with a life-limiting illness and their whānau / family to live as fully as possible, right to the end. Hospice provides specialist support through physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual care. All of this care should be a basic part of New Zealand’s health system, not something left to chance.
Hospice care is free to every patient and whānau in need, no matter where they live. But today, not everyone has fair access. Too many communities face gaps in service, workforce shortages, and funding uncertainty that put vital care at risk.
Read our 2026 Palliative Care Policy for Aotearoa
What We’re Calling For in 2026
We want a health system that treats dying well as essential health care, just like maternity or emergency services. To make that a reality, we’re asking for:
1. A Fair and sustainable price for hospice services
Government funding must be fair and reliable so hospices can plan for and deliver care where it’s needed most.
We want to see the Hospice Services and Funding Review completed and used to develop a new, fairer funding model that ends the post code lottery.
2. A pay equity settlement for hospice nurses
Essential to be able to recruit/ retain a skilled nursing workforce
3. Implementation of the new National Model for Integrated Adult Palliative Care
4. Workforce support, development and growth
We need a strategy that includes funding more specialist training roles, improves career pathways, and ensures pay equity so skilled clinicians can stay in this vital profession.
5. Implementing a National Model for Paediatric Care
Children and families deserve access to supported, specialist palliative care tailored to their needs.
Clear, equitable investment in hospice care isn’t just the right thing to do it also makes economic sense, reducing the pressure on hospitals and supporting whānau in their own communities.
How You Can Support our Call