Rei Kōtuku Charitable Trust - Children's Palliative Care Service - Kiwibank New Zealander of The Year Awards

Rei Kōtuku Charitable Trust – Children’s Palliative Care Service

New Zealand Community of the Year

Finalist

Mitre 10

New Zealand Community of the Year

Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

View all New Zealand Community of the Year 2026 Finalists

Rei Kōtuku Charitable Trust – Children’s Palliative Care Service

Rei Kōtuku Charitable Trust – Children’s Palliative Care Service has become a lifeline for families across Aotearoa New Zealand, delivering free specialist paediatric palliative care and bereavement support to communities who would otherwise go without. Over the past year, the trust has expanded its team and reached further into rural regions, travelling to children and whānau wherever they are. They provide expert care on the ground, build capability alongside local clinicians, and remain available 24/7 for urgent advice via phone or telehealth. To strengthen care nationwide, they have also developed innovative educational tools launching in 2026.

This small but mighty team is reliant solely on donations being the country’s only charitable specialist paediatric palliative care service. Alongside clinical work, they advocate tirelessly for a national, publicly funded model, so every child can access this essential care. Their compassionate, culturally grounded, community-led approach is reshaping paediatric palliative care in Aotearoa. From end-of-life care to grief and bereavement support, Rei Kōtuku integrates specialist medical, emotional, and spiritual care to meet the real and complex needs of whānau. Despite financial uncertainty, their resilience and aroha continue to transform lives, ensuring no family faces their darkest moments alone.

Recognising communities achieving powerful collective impact. Through connection, resilience and shared purpose, these groups are proving that change is possible when people come together to do good.

Nominees of this Award must:

Be more than one person (duo, group, community or organisation) who has made – or is making – a significant contribution to their region, town, suburb, community (be it geographical, or interest specific), iwi, or local group. In any sector including (but not limited to) business, leadership, culture, voluntary work, disaster relief, environmental work, health, education, sporting clubs, or working with the disadvantaged.
Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
Be role models for New Zealanders and highlight collective action toward positive change.
Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.

Award Criteria

Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:

10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the community, group or duo you are nominating and the work that they do (particularly over the past 12-months) that has inspired you to nominate them as the New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau.
10 points: PURPOSE:
Who benefits from the work of this community, and how?
10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to create an impact to this point (this may still be ongoing).
10 points: PROVEN IMPACT:
How has this community clearly demonstrated a positive impact in their area of influence? How has this been measured?
10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
If applicable, how would the nominee/s enhance, grow, and/or adapt their approach in the future to best meet the changing needs of their community? How would winning this award impact this group and the work that they are doing?
10 points: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & INNOVATIVE THINKING:
How thoughtful, creative, and unique is this community’s approach to their challenge, opportunity, or situation?