Philanthropy

Kea recognises the unique role the Starship Foundation plays in the field of children’s health outcomes in this country and through this partnership we will rally the support of New Zealanders here and overseas to make the extraordinary happen for the future of New Zealand’s children.

Since 1992, the Starship Foundation has been supporting children, whanau and staff at Starship New Zealand’s national children’s hospital. Over the last 28 years, the Foundation has invested more than $150 million into Starship, making a real difference to children across New Zealand every day. 

The Starship Foundation is firmly focussed on accelerating and sustaining world-class healthcare for children from all over the country. The Foundation invests in impact programmes which focus on equity to ensure no child is left behind because of geography or ethnicity, and prevention to keep children out of hospital safe and healthy in the community. Additionally, the Starship Foundation funds programmes which save and improve lives through new technology and treatments as well as clinical research; and, programmes that enhance child centred care, the wellbeing of patients and their families. 

Starship Foundation CEO, Aisha Punga talks to the purpose of the foundation, saying, “At the Starship Foundation, we have the privileged role of weaving people together guided by the Māori whakatauki of whiria te tāngata. We weave together our skilled clinicians, courageous patients, families, and our compassionate donors to accelerate world-class health for the nation through our investment in programmes that impact on our children, families and staff.

“This year, we collaborated with World Class New Zealander Peter Gordon for a pre-launch experience at his latest venture Homeland. At the heart of this connection was a shared purpose – the desire to connect communities, share stories, and create something good and meaningful for Aotearoa, New Zealand, and our Pacific neighbours. It is this natural alignment that sees us joining forces with Kea in our common mission to weave together people who want to make a difference to this country and its people.”

Toni Truslove agrees, “Connecting our community and World Class New Zealanders to the Starship Foundation will help make a difference, amplifying the incredible programmes and initiatives, and the exponential impact of Starship for all New Zealanders.”

Every hour, of every day, extraordinary stories are unfolding at Starship. They’re true stories of bravery, courage, skill, generosity and compassion. Each Starship story has a different hero. Sometimes it’s an inspiring determined child, sometimes it’s a caring, skillful member of staff. The Foundation has many amazing stories of generosity too. There are as little as two degrees of separation between each of us and a child in need, and the support of donors is key. Together, with the generosity of donors, Starship are able to bring our children better health and brighter futures. 

For some Kiwis, Starship feels very close to home. Our Global Communications & Community Director Ele Quigan shares her story…

Having a sick child can absolutely overwhelm you with worry. With a fever of over 40 degrees in the middle of our level 4 lockdown, with much nervousness and trepidation I took our little 7 month old to Starship. That’s when the true impact of the pandemic hit for me. There was significantly heightened security everywhere, and every person was in full PPE. However despite this new normal, what was incredible to me was beyond the absolute seriousness of the surrounding time, the smiles you could see through the masks.

While we were waiting for tests to find out what was going on: I accidentally pushed the emergency button. Absolutely EVERYONE came running. Beyond being utterly embarrassed, it brought home the Starship teams’ commitment to us and their focus on my little one’s health and wellbeing. Kea’s partnership with the Starship Foundation encourages New Zealanders wherever we are in the world, to make a difference for Kiwi kids, just like my own, building their health and wellbeing outcomes for the betterment of all New Zealand. My little baby was thankfully out of hospital a short time later.

Do you have your own Starship story? We’d love to hear it, please share with us at [email protected]