Children Are Not Little Adults
Children are not simply smaller versions of adults. Their physical, emotional, developmental, and social needs differ profoundly from those of adults. Yet, children’s health needs often remain invisible, and they are frequently expected to adapt to systems designed primarily for adults. Too often, what is right and appropriate for children is overlooked.
The Silence Surrounding Children’s Needs
For many reasons, adults struggle to truly hear or understand what matters to children. The old belief that children should be “seen and not heard” still lingers in society. This attitude stands in stark contrast to the vision of the Child Health Strategy, which emphasises that children should be seen, heard, and have their needs met.
The Child Health Strategy: A Commitment to Children
The Child Health Strategy (1998) represents a commitment by the New Zealand Government and the Ministry of Health to ensure funders and providers work together to improve, promote, and protect the health of children and their families.
Its principles align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World Summit for Children, affirming that every child in New Zealand has the right to the highest attainable standard of health and access to appropriate health services.
For decades, many of us within the health sector have advocated for children to receive care that recognises their unique needs, care that is not simply adapted from adult services but designed specifically for them.
Children With Serious Illnesses: An Overlooked Population
Children living with life-limiting or life‑threatening illnesses are especially vulnerable. Society often struggles to acknowledge that children can become seriously ill, and that some will die from their conditions. This discomfort can leave families feeling isolated, misunderstood, and unsupported as they navigate the unimaginable.
A Significant Step Forward: New Investment in Paediatric Palliative Care
Recently, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced a major development: children with serious illnesses and their families will receive improved access to compassionate, specialist paediatric palliative care closer to home.
He acknowledged that “families caring for a child with a life-threatening illness are facing some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Parents and their children deserve to know they will have access to the specialist care support they need, wherever they live in New Zealand.”
The 2026 Budget includes a $15.5 million investment over four years to establish a nationally consistent paediatric palliative care service. Dedicated specialist teams will operate across both the North and South Islands.
Minister Brown emphasised that “every child deserves care delivered with dignity, comfort, and compassion, and every family deserves to feel supported during the most difficult times imaginable.” This investment signals a commitment to building a more compassionate health system, one that supports children and families where and when they need it most.
A Step Toward Children Being Seen and Heard
This announcement aligns strongly with the Child Health Strategy’s vision of children being seen, heard, and having their needs met. For those of us who have spent years caring for children and advocating for their rights, this development is both encouraging and long overdue. It represents a moment where the voices of children and those who speak on their behalf are finally being acknowledged.
Holding Hope for Meaningful Change
I remain hopeful that children and young people living with serious illnesses will continue to be recognised and understood by decision‑makers across the health sector. This budget announcement signals that children requiring palliative care have not been forgotten.
It is heartening to hold hope for change, tempered with caution and a commitment to ensuring that the allocated funds genuinely meet the specific needs of children.
