23 September 2026
We're delighted to introduce Wellington Hospitals Foundation as the Principal Sponsor and Scholarship Supporter of Te Kāhui Mātai Arotamariki o Aotearoa | The Paediatric Society of New Zealand's (PSNZ) 2026 Annual Meeting in Wellington.
As the official charity partner for Health New Zealand Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, the Foundation has spent more than 20 years funding the equipment, technology, training, and environments that go beyond what public funding alone can provide. Child health has long been at the heart of that work, which makes the Foundation a natural partner for a meeting that brings together clinicians, researchers and healthcare professionals committed to better outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa.
A long commitment to tamariki and whānau
Many PSNZ members will know the Foundation's work first-hand. This includes the community fundraising efforts that helped to bring Te Wao Nui Children’s Hospital to life, including Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dame Dorothy Spotswood donating $50M, as well as an additional $10M donated by the community to support the fit-out. Te Wao Nui is nationally significant and benefits thousands of patients and families every year, from Gisborne and Taranaki in the north to Nelson and Marlborough in the south.
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Neonatal care has been another major focus for the Foundation. Over the past two decades, community support has contributed around $4 million towards advanced neonatal care, most recently raising more than $500,000 for a new Neonatal Transport Incubator for Wellington Regional Hospital's NICU Flight Service, enabling critically unwell and premature babies from across the central region to be safely transferred for lifesaving care.
Investing in the people who deliver care
The Foundation's support extends beyond equipment to the workforce itself. Its funding for Wellington Regional Hospital's Simulation and Skills Centre gives teams a safe place to practise high-pressure scenarios, including neonatal and paediatric emergencies, using life-like manikins and simulation technology.
Sponsoring our Annual Meeting continues that commitment. As part of the partnership, the Foundation will support attendance opportunities for Health New Zealand Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley staff, helping more healthcare professionals access professional development, share knowledge and bring new ideas back to the communities they serve.
For the Foundation’s Chief Executive Guy Ryan, the connection is also personal:
"As a father with two young children both born at Wellington Regional Hospital, including one that spent time in NICU – I've seen first-hand the extraordinary care provided by our clinical teams. Seeing our community come together to fundraise and support important projects to improve child health in our region is a very special thing."
Looking ahead
Wellington Hospitals Foundation and PSNZ share a commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau, and to fostering collaboration, innovation and learning across the paediatric sector. We're grateful to have them on board as our first Principal Sponsor and look forward to celebrating the expertise and dedication of those working in children's health together in Wellington.
➡️ Find out more about the Foundation at www.whf.org.nz
➡️ PSNZ Annual Meeting 2026 programme and registration details here: https://forumpoint2-psnz-77th-annual-meeting-2026.eventsairsite.com/
Ngā mihi nui to the team at Wellington Hospitals Foundation.
The PSNZ Annual Meeting 2026 Committee