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THE REVIEWS ARE IN: DYING IN AOTEAROA

Dying Reviews invited people who are dying, or who have supported someone who is, to reflect on how they were treated by the everyday systems that surround us – from energy providers and insurance companies, to employers, government departments and even supermarkets.

Some of the reviews are confronting. Others are praiseworthy. All are a powerful reminder that how we treat people during this phase of life matters deeply.

Harcourts Foundation and Hospice New Zealand renew partnership for the ninth year

The Harcourts Foundation and Hospice New Zealand are proud to announce the renewal of their national partnership for the ninth consecutive year, continuing their shared commitment through the Hospice New Zealand Grants Programme.

Since its inception in 2017, this partnership has enabled the Harcourts Foundation to contribute over $380,000 to local hospices across Aotearoa. The Grants Programme provides hospices with crucial funding for items that directly enhance the quality of care offered to patients and their whānau.

Dire warning over the state of palliative care

In a new paper published by the New Zealand Medical Journal, Dr Catherine De Souza issues a dire warning on the state of palliative care in New Zealand.

Dr De Souza is chair of the Palliative Care Collaborative Aotearoa and the NZ Branch of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care.

Dr De Souza assessed the infrastructure, workforce, quality, accessibility and worth of our palliative care offerings and found the state of palliative care in poor condition.

"It makes weep when I see people in their 90s being admitted to hospital out of hours, because there is nowhere else to go and and there is no-one available to look after them because they are dying. It shouldn't be like that," says De Souza.

Read more:

A News Media story about Dr Catherine's research

 Dr Catherine's paper published in the NZ Medical Journal

Ban on Contactless Payment Surcharges: A Blow to Hospice Op Shops

Hospice New Zealand is calling for urgent engagement with Government over the unintended consequences of the proposed ban on contactless payment surcharges — warning that it could cost charitable retailers millions in lost funding for essential healthcare services.

Humans of Hospice - Meet Trish

After meeting Trish, I left with an overwhelming sense of passion and admiration for the incredible work she does. From discussing her role within the hospice to the beautiful garden on the hospice grounds, created by the local community she works with, it was clear that Trish’s heart is deeply intertwined with the service and the families it serves. The kowhai necklace she wears was gifted to her by hospice in recognition of her years of commitment and dedication to both the service and the community.

Here's Trish’s response to “So, what impact does hospice have?”

Hospice Heroes

Hospice Heroes is must see TV.  Streaming on TV3Now, this series is about the people who work and volunteer at South Auckland’s Tōtara Hospice. In Hospice Heroes, staff, patients and their whānau share their experience of end-of-life care. Dr James Jap is one of them.

Listen to Dr James talk on RNZ Sunday Morning about death, why we need to open up and discuss death more often, and how his workplace can often be filled with joy and laughter. 

Hospices are at Tipping Point - Why don't MPs care?

"Dead people don't vote, of course. But maybe politicians have forgotten that their families do"

Read the Editorial in the Sunday Star Times highlighting the stark truth that our hospice sector is in crisis.

Struggling hospice nurses shattered by pay equity changes

This year’s Hospice Awareness Week comes as hospices struggle to keep their doors open because of a lack of Government funding and nurses’ chances of fair pay shattered by the removal of their pay equity claim, NZNO says.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) hospice pay equity claim was filed in late-2023 covering 27 hospices employing its members. That claim, alongside nine others for NZNO, were thrown out by the Government last week with its to pay equity law changes.

Dying NZers & Their Families Will Fund The Shortfall Between Pay For A Nurse In A Hospital & A Nurse In A Hospice

The latest pay equity legislation is a giant set back for Hospice nurses.

“To fund the widening pay gap is simply beyond the ability of hospices to do,” says Wayne Naylor. “Some have paid their nurses more than they can afford just to keep their nurses and keep providing care. Some can’t even do that and are looking to cut back services.

Read here why dying New Zealanders and their families will fund the shortfall between pay for a nurse in a hospital and a nurse in a hospice.

Lack of funding for hospice care

Listen to RNZ The Panel where host Wallace Chapman is joined by panelists Paula Penfold & Phil O'Reilly. The three of them discuss: a lack of funding for hospice care. 

Paula Penfold is an investigative journalist at stuff
Phil O'Reilly is a global business leader

The Panel with Paula Penfold & Phil O'Reilly (Part 1) | RNZ