New Zealand Boosts Hospice Funding by $12M to Enhance Palliative Care Services

Hospices will receive a funding boost to strengthen palliative care services across New Zealand, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

Thousands of New Zealanders and their families rely on hospice care every year during some of the most difficult times in their lives, Mr Brown says.

Ensuring people receive quality, compassionate end-of-life palliative care is deeply important to me, and investing in these services is critical to making sure that support is there when it’s needed most.

To support that, Health New Zealand will provide a $12 million funding uplift to hospices for 2026/27.

This investment follows a recent review of hospice services, undertaken by Health New Zealand in partnership with Hospice New Zealand and hospices, which identified significant variation in funding levels, service models, and the range of services provided across the country.

Currently, Government funding covers around 64 per cent of total hospice service costs delivered across New Zealand, with the remaining 36 per cent funded by the sector. However, the level of Government support varies significantly between individual hospices, ranging from 22 per cent to 91 per cent.

To help address these disparities, funding will be more closely aligned with need while ensuring every hospice receives a baseline increase.

This targeted approach will ensure funding is better aligned to the needs of services and the communities they support, helping to strengthen access to specialist palliative care across the country.

The funding uplift has been informed by information provided by hospices through Hospice New Zealand, and I want to acknowledge their leadership and advocacy on behalf of hospices and the communities they serve.

Mr Brown say this investment also builds on wider Government action to strengthen specialist palliative care services.

Budget 2026 included $15.5 million over four years to establish a nationally consistent specialist paediatric palliative care service, delivered through dedicated teams in both the North and South Islands.

Together, these investments will strengthen hospice and palliative care services and improve access for families across New Zealand.

We are committed to supporting palliative care services, including hospices, to ensure care is there for people and their families when they need it most. I want to sincerely thank the dedicated staff and volunteers who provide compassionate care and support during some of life’s most difficult moments.