Children and Young People's Health Collective Manifesto launch
7 August 2026
The Children and Young People's Health Collective shared its first Manifesto at Parliament on Tuesday 3 August to discuss practical actions that will improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people experiencing significant health issues, and their whānau.
The Children and Young People's Health Collective brings together six charities from across Aotearoa that collectively support more than 130,000 children and young people every year through essential services not currently provided by Te Whatu Ora.
The Collective includes Canteen Aotearoa, Child Cancer Foundation, Heart Kids NZ, Kidney Kids NZ, Make-A-Wish Foundation NZ and Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand.
While each organisation provides different levels and types of support, we consistently see many of the same financial, practical and emotional barriers affecting children, young people and whānau. Drawing on this collective frontline experience, the Manifesto sets out practical recommendations and calls for Government to work in partnership with the Collective to reduce these barriers.
The Manifesto launch event was held at the Legislative Council Chamber at Parliament, and included an overview of the Collective's recommendations and a cross-party political panel discussion on the importance of collaboration between Government and the community sector to improve outcomes for children and young people experiencing significant health issues.
"Every child and young person experiencing significant health issues should have the same opportunity to achieve positive health and wellbeing outcomes as their peers. We know the barriers families face extend well beyond their health condition, and we also know there are practical steps that can help reduce them. This Manifesto is an opportunity for Government and the community sector to work together to improve outcomes for children, young people and whānau."
Nick Laing, Chair of Children and Young People’s Health Collective and Chief Executive of Canteen Aotearoa
The Manifesto calls on Government to work in partnership with the Children and Young People's Health Collective to deliver practical actions across three priority areas:
- Reducing financial pressure on families, including reviewing National Travel Assistance payments and eligibility annually, and standardising funeral grant support across Government agencies.
- Improving transitions and continuity of care, through a nationally funded transition programme and strengthened workforce capability to support young people moving between paediatric and adult services.
- Strengthening access to wellbeing support, including a national needs assessment and a co-designed action plan with dedicated funding and implementation timeframes.