New Zealand’s leading children’s charities are calling on political parties to commit to practical changes that would provide greater support for seriously ill tamariki, rangatahi and the whānau caring for them.
The Children and Young People’s Health Collective has launched a new manifesto setting out priorities it wants political leaders to address, putting the experiences of children with serious health conditions and their families firmly on the political agenda.
The Collective brings together organisations working directly with children, young people and families navigating serious illness and the health system.
Nick Laing, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Health Collective and Chief Executive of Canteen Aotearoa, says the manifesto is focused on practical improvements that could make a meaningful difference for families already carrying the emotional, financial and logistical pressures of caring for a sick child.
The campaign is pushing political parties to recognise that serious childhood illness affects the whole whānau, with families often having to manage time away from work, travel for treatment, accommodation costs and lengthy periods away from their usual support networks.
The Collective wants stronger coordination and support across health and social services so families can concentrate more of their energy on their child rather than navigating complicated systems.
For Māori whānau, improving access to culturally responsive and equitable healthcare also remains critical, particularly when specialist treatment can require families to travel significant distances from their kāinga and wider whānau support.
The manifesto puts the challenge directly before political parties as they develop their health and social policies, asking them to ensure seriously ill children, young people and their caregivers are not overlooked when decisions are made about the future of healthcare in Aotearoa.
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