National Palliative Care Steering Group

This working group was established in Dec 2023 in collaboration with the Paediatric Palliative Care Clinical Network. It concluded in July 2024. The purpose of this group was to: 

• review previous guidance and identify a national model for paediatric palliative care that is whānau centred and meets the needs of tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau
• provide recommendations on achieving equitable access to, and outcomes from, paediatric palliative care services for tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau
• recommend core paediatric palliative care services that will be publicly funded
• propose a national model of paediatric palliative care, including a funding model and implementation plan. 

The working group members

• Amanda Evans
• Amanda Lyver
• Amy Hinder
• Callum Gately
• Cynthia Ward
• Davina Collins
• Emily Chang
• Gemma Aburn
• Jay Marlow
• Jo Truscott
• Kirimoana Pook
• Michelle Wood
• Nicole Coupe
• Turid Heiler

Proposed paediatric adolescent and young adult palliative model of care

The proposed model of care and service configuration options can be downloaded on our resources page.

Many thanks to everyone who gave feedback on this proposal during April 2025. We received over 1,700 submissions and are reviewing all the feedback we have received.

This working group was established in February 2024 to make sure equity is front and centre of the work programme.  They work to:

• identify unwarranted variation, inequitable access to, and outcomes from, palliative care services
• provide recommendations on achieving equitable access for everyone in New Zealand and their whānau.

Working group members

• Amy Henry
• Christina Bowen
• Diane Perenara
• Jackie Robinson
• Jesse Davis
• Lyneta Russell
• Lea Galvin
• Perminder Kaur
• Ria Earp
• Richard Egan
• Sally-Anne Mason
• Samuel Cho

Underserved communities report

Health NZ also commissioned the Te Ārai Palliative Care and End of Life Research Group. They collate evidence relating to communities currently underserved by palliative care services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The voices of underserved communities in palliative care report is now available and provides a snapshot of key issues for 9 such communities:

• people experiencing homelessness
• incarcerated people
• people living in areas of rural deprivation
• gang affiliated or related whānau
• members of rainbow communities
• people from refugee backgrounds
• people experiencing serious mental illness
• people with a learning disability
• children and young people.

The report also collates all available published evidence regarding Māori and Pacific experiences of palliative and end of life care. You can download the report form our resources page.

The authors of this report presented an online webinar to discuss their findings and answer questions in March 2025.

Voices of Underserved Communities Webinar — Vimeoexternal link

This group was established in June 2024 to review how adult palliative care services and systems work together in Aotearoa New Zealand. This work concluded in January 2025. The group submitted their recommendations for core adult palliative care services and a national model of care to the Steering Group.

Working group members

• Anna Blackwell
• Evelyn Gerrish
• Hera Pierce
• Hinetewai
• Kate Grundy
• Louisa Ingham
• Salina Iupati
• Sue Tutty

Proposed national model for integrated adult palliative care in Aotearoa New Zealand

You can download the proposed model of care and service configuration options from our resources page.

Many thanks to everyone who gave feedback on this proposal during September and October 2025. We have begun reviewing all the feedback we have received.

Survey of palliative care services and change priorities

Thank you to everyone who filled in our national survey during April and May 2024. We received over 1,000 responses.

Webinar October 2024

The Models of Care — Adult Working Group members presented an online webinar update of their work on 23 October 2024.

Health NZ Palliative Care Work Programme - Adult Models of Care working group update — Vimeoexternal link

Webinar slides are available on our resources page.

Feedback on the recommendations for change

The proposed national model for integrated adult palliative care was released for feedback in September 2025.

The Steering Group established the Contracting and funding working group in April 2025. This group will propose the foundations of a contracting and funding framework for adult community specialist palliative care services. This is to make sure all people have access to appropriate services.

Working group members

• Angie Holmes
• Audrey Williams
• Bryce Sheedy
• Christina Ross
• Devon Diggle
• Emma Maddren
• Francie Dibley-Mason
• Iain Diamond
• Jane Wilson
• Miriam Lindsay
• Richard Lowe
• Tony Gray
• Tony Paine
• Wendy Rowe

The Steering Group established the Outcomes measures and reporting working group in July 2025. This group will recommend an outcomes measures and reporting framework for paediatric and adult palliative care services. The framework will capture standardised national data for:

• tangata whaiora
• patient
• service
• impact.

Working group members

• Amber Hammill
• Andrew Lesperance
• Devon Diggle
• Donna Gray
• Finley Ngarangi Johnson
• Gemma Aburn
• John Craig McDougall
• Kate Grundy
• Rhomma Jazel Asuncion
• Temira Mataroa
• Ying Yang (Jones)

The Workforce working group will provide recommendations to grow and sustain a clinically and culturally competent, diverse palliative care workforce. We aim for the workforce to represent the community it is serving and meets service demands.

Expressions of interest for this working group have now closed. Many thanks to all those who applied. We hope to notify applicants of the outcome by mid-November.