Hand holding a heart.

Hospice Palliative Care Service

Our Hospice Palliative Care Service provides compassionate, specialist support for people with life-limiting illness and their whānau. We focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life - offering physical, emotional, spiritual and social care when it matters most.

Hospice Palliative Care

Palliative care helps adults and children with a life-limiting illness live their life as fully and comfortably as possible. Palliative care identifies and treats symptoms which may be physical (taha tinana), emotional (taha hinengaro) , spiritual (taha wairua), or social (taha whānau). Family/whānau and friends can also receive practical and emotional support.

Hospice Info Read Guides →
Two men are sitting on a couch talking to each other

Care & support when you need it most

Nurse Maude provides a range of specialist hospice palliative care services for those living in Canterbury. All services are free to patients and their families/whanau.


Referrals for specialist palliative care can be made by any health professional. Most patients have their palliative care needs met by primary providers such as district nursing teams and GPs. The Hospice Palliative Care team are specialist providers and are skilled at monitoring and supporting patients at home, in aged care facilities, or in the hospice inpatient unit, who may have more complex or challenging symptoms causing concern. The team always works alongside the district nurses, GPs, and other health professionals to provide the best possible care.



Patients and their families/whānau may self-refer for counselling.

Help us improve our service

If you would like to provide feedback on any aspect of the Hospice Palliative Care Service, please complete the short survey below. Your feedback is important to us and helps us to continually improve the service we provide to our patients and whānau. Thank you.

Feedback Survey
A woman in a blue scrub is smiling and holding a clipboard

Our position on the End of Life Choice Act 2019

We will follow our responsibility in accordance with the End of Life Choice Act 2019 if a patient wishes to explore assisted dying. We respect all views, and we will continue to provide the best care possible to patients and their whānau. However, our staff will not assess patients for eligibility, nor be present during the administration of any medication used in assisted dying, wherever that may take place. Assisted dying will not occur on hospice premises. We will continue to provide care and support up to the point of assisted death, and during bereavement.

Latest news

Bright hospital room with two beds, windows, a table, and a sink in the foreground.

Nurse Maude welcomes investment in paediatric palliative care

14 May 2026
Nurse Maude welcomes the Government’s announcement of 15.5 million in additional funding for paediatric palliative care, recognising the difference this will make for children, young people and their whānau across Aotearoa. Louise Zacest, Chief Executive of Nurse Maude, says the investment acknowledges the complexity and importance of providing compassionate, specialist care at some of life’s most challenging times. “Caring for children with life-limiting conditions, and supporting their families, requires highly skilled, multidisciplinary teams and a strong network of services. This funding is an important step toward strengthening that support for families when they need it most.” In Canterbury, Nurse Maude already provides specialist paediatric palliative care both in the community and within its hospice, supported through a combination of its own investment and the generosity of its community. “We are proud to have specialist paediatric palliative nurses as part of our team, delivering care wherever it is needed — whether that’s in a child’s home or in our hospice,” says Zacest. Nurse Maude’s new hospice, opening on 17 June, has been thoughtfully designed to support children and their families, including dedicated paediatric facilities and an adjoining room so whānau can stay close to their child during inpatient care. This space has been made possible through a generous bequest from Cantabrian Mr Cyril Smith.
Smiling man with “Delivering trusted, quality care since 1896” text and 130-year anniversary badge on blue background

Nurse Maude awarded Highly Commended in Readers Digest Trusted Brands

1 May 2026
We are delighted to share that Nurse Maude has been recognised in the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands awards, receiving a Highly Commended award in the “Home Health Care” category in both 2025 and 2026.

Chief Financial Officer Opportunity at Nurse Maude

17 April 2026
Nurse Maude is seeking an exceptional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our Executive Management Team, based in Christchurch. This is a rare opportunity to bring strategic financial leadership to a values-driven, not-for-profit organisation. Partnering closely with the Chief Executive and Board, the CFO will play a key role in shaping the future of community-based healthcare across Aotearoa Te Waipounamu. With responsibility spanning both the Nurse Maude Association (Operational activities) and Nurse Maude Foundation (philanthropy), this role operates at meaningful scale - supporting over $110 million in annual cashflow, a $70 million balance sheet, and a dedicated Finance & Assurance team. The CFO will lead financial strategy, funding approaches, investment decisions, and governance frameworks that ensure long-term sustainability and impact. We are looking for a seasoned financial leader who combines strong commercial acumen with a genuine commitment to purpose. This includes a deep understanding of financial management, experience operating in complex or government-funded environments, and the ability to lead high-performing teams. A strong alignment with Nurse Maude’s mission, values, and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi is essential. For a confidential discussion, please contact Andrea Bankier at Sheffield on +64 27 447 8102 or andrea.bankier@sheffield.co.nz . Applications close 10 May 2026.
Show More