Nearly everyone might benefit from hospice services, whether for themselves or for loved ones, but access to specialist palliative care is still patchy and it’s only sustained by private fundraising. In this episode, Research Manager Maryanne Spurdle speaks with Hospice NZ Chief Executive Wayne Naylor about what hospices do, the challenges they face, and what would improve Kiwis' end-of-life care.

Wayne explains how hospices serve people in hospitals, communities, and their own homes; how the funding model leaves all providers fundraising for core services; and why New Zealand’s international palliative care ranking has steadily declined. He also discusses how attitudes toward death in health care shape the system’s priorities, and whether proposed legislation could ensure fairer access to care.

We finish by asking how ordinary New Zealanders can support quality end-of-life care.