Palliative care — specialist care focused on quality of life and dignity for people with life-limiting illness — is one of New Zealand's most philanthropy-dependent health sectors. While government provides base funding for palliative services, the hospice sector relies substantially on philanthropic giving and grants to deliver the full range of care that dying people and their families need. Understanding this funding landscape matters both for hospice organisations seeking support and for funders considering where their giving can make a difference.
Government funding (DHB/Te Whatu Ora)
Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) provides funding to hospice organisations for specialist palliative care — but this government funding typically covers only 50-70% of the actual cost of service. The remainder must be raised through philanthropy and community fundraising.
This funding gap is significant and persistent — the hospice sector has consistently advocated for increased government funding to close it, with partial success over time.
Hospice philanthropy
The philanthropic component of hospice funding comes from:
- Community fundraising (events, campaigns, op-shops)
- Individual donations and bequests
- Corporate partnerships
- Foundation and trust grants
- Gaming trust grants
Hospice op-shops (charity shops) are a significant and distinctive revenue source for many New Zealand hospices — community members donating goods, volunteers operating shops, and the community shopping there creates both revenue and community connection.
Hospice New Zealand is the national peak body for hospice and palliative care — representing approximately 35 member hospices across the country. It:
- Advocates for adequate government funding
- Provides quality standards and accreditation
- Supports member capacity and development
- Coordinates sector research and policy
Gaming trusts
Gaming trusts are significant funders of hospice and palliative care across New Zealand:
- Trust Horizon, Pub Charity, Lion Foundation, and others fund palliative care equipment, services, and facility costs
- Gaming trusts are particularly valuable for capital equipment and facility improvements that government doesn't fund
Community foundations
Local community foundations often have strong relationships with hospices:
- Foundation North (Auckland/Northland) has funded palliative care programmes
- Community foundations in Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury, and other regions support local hospices
The Tindall Foundation
The Tindall Foundation has funded palliative care and hospice initiatives, recognising end-of-life care as a community health priority.
Health-focused trusts
Several health-focused trusts support palliative care:
- Canterbury Medical Research Foundation
- Counties Manukau Health Charitable Trust
- Various DHB-linked charitable trusts
Individual and estate philanthropy
Bequests — gifts through wills — are one of the most significant sources of major philanthropic income for hospices. Many New Zealanders who experience the care of hospice services leave bequests to their local hospice, creating sustained philanthropic income.
Specialist clinical services
Inpatient facilities
Community and home-based care
Bereavement support
Paediatric palliative care
Education and research
Palliative care is consistently underinvested relative to its importance and community benefit:
For funders considering health philanthropy, palliative care offers strong value: relatively modest grant investment directly enables specialist care that makes a profound difference for people at the most vulnerable time of their lives.
Effective palliative care grant applications:
Tahua's grants management platform supports hospice and palliative care organisations managing grants — with funder relationship management, grant application tracking, reporting workflows, and the tools that help hospices manage multiple funding streams efficiently while focusing on patient care.