Palmerston North Hospital Foundation

05/10/2026

Friends of the Emergency Department (FEDs) is here to stay!

We've confirmed $75,000 in funding over the next three years to keep this amazing team of volunteers supporting our ED, after Hato Hone St John stepped back from running the programme late last year.

FED volunteers have spent almost 20 years turning up with a cuppa, a chat, and a friendly face for patients and whānau on some of their toughest days - covering four hour shifts seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.

Whether you realise it or not, every person in this region will know someone who's been helped by a FED volunteer. With their future secure, they need more volunteers to join the team - especially for after-work and weekend shifts. No clinical experience is required, just people who care.

Could that be you? Email [email protected]
Read more here: https://www.pnhospitalfoundation.co.nz/fed

30/09/2026

Big thanks to the Manawatū Nurses Group for their generous $500 donation to better health outcomes for our community.

Foundation Trustee Rodney spoke to around 60 members recently, and their support means so much to us.

Thank you for backing healthcare in our region!

15/09/2026

Auction time! The Turbos and Cyclones Heritage Charity Jerseys are now live on TradeMe!

Each jersey was worn by a Turbos or Cyclones player on the field this season. It's a genuine piece of Manawatū Rugby history, and your chance to own something unique. Every dollar raised goes towards our Foundation projects, helping make a difference for our community's health.

Check out the full list of auctions and closing times, and get a bid in before time runs out. Thank you, Manawatū Rugby, for your amazing support:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?member_listing=9399977

10/09/2026

We were thrilled to hear from the Palmerston North Bridge Club this week, to discover Palmerston North 500 Group recently raised $1000 for our Foundation through a scratchie board raffle - kindly donated by Paterson Exterior Plastering Ltd. We're lucky to have so many local groups backing us and our vision!

They've got another fundraising event coming up later this month, so head along for a great time with a wonderful bunch of people! 😍

02/09/2026

Your generosity is making headlines!

We were honoured to have John Campbell and the RNZ Morning Report team share their excitement for the surgical robot fundraising achievement that our community made possible.

We're so grateful to everyone who has played a part in this. From community conversations to donations, every little bit helps make a difference.

You can listen to the interview online here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2019050296/fundraising-delivers-surgical-robot-for-palmerston-north

For more information on the Foundation, visit our website: https://www.pnhospitalfoundation.co.nz/

01/09/2026

Last week was one heck of a week for Manawatū Turbos and Cyclone fans - especially some of their youngest fans. Players from both teams, along with some of our Foundation board members, popped in to visit families staying in the hospital's children's ward.

This included giving out some special, kid-sized kits of the special heritage Charity Jersey that's helping support the Foundation and our projects. An awesome way to celebrate 50 years of provincial Rugby and 140 years of Manawatū Rugby!

We're so proud of our partnership with Manawatū Rugby, and absolutely thrilled to have them in our corner. Legends, the lot of them 💪

30/08/2026

We’re celebrating today! Our community has raised the millions needed for a publicly-owned surgical robot at Palmerston North Regional Hospital - in just six months!
This incredible milestone wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of our community - from major donors and grant funders through to businesses and individuals who all chipped in. Thank you for helping us get here, and for believing in something this big.

With the $2.5 million + GST funding now secured, MidCentral Health New Zealand can begin the formal process of purchasing the robot. This is a significant step closer to having it here with us.

Thank you for being part of something this special. We’ll keep you updated as the procurement gets underway, and we can’t wait to see the impact this has for countless families.

Sign up to receive our email newsletter to get the latest updates: pnhospitalfoundation.co.nz

25/08/2026

Thanks for the support Manawatū Rugby 🫶

History, heritage 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒃𝒚 🏉

The Cyclones season starts here. The Turbos are back at home.

And both teams will take the field in matching heritage charity jerseys as part of a special doubleheader supporting the Palmerston North Hospital Foundation.

A huge afternoon and evening of rugby awaits at The Arena. Bring the whanau, support both teams and be part of something special 💚🤍

Manawatū Rugby Provincial Rugby NZ

09/08/2026

Rotary has always been about showing up for the community, and the $70,000 contribution towards our surgical robot project from the Palmerston North and Awapuni Rotary Clubs is exactly that.

Robot-assisted surgery means smaller incisions, faster recovery, fewer complications - and so much more than that. It means people get back to their whānau, their work, and their daily lives sooner. Less time in hospital means less financial pressure, less stress, and less impact on mental health and wellbeing.

That ripple effect is enormous, and we want to say a huge thank you to the Rotary Clubs for their generous support 🎉

👉 https://www.pnhospitalfoundation.co.nz/surgicalrobot

04/08/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to the Palmerston North Hospital Regional Cancer Treatment Trust for their generous $500,000 donation toward a surgical robot for our community!

580,000 people across the central and lower North Island rely on Palmerston North Regional Hospital's cancer services, from Taranaki to Hawke's Bay. That's a lot of people who deserve world-class care, close to home - and, thanks to the Trust, we're closer than ever to making that a reality. 💙

Learn more about our surgical robot project here: https://www.pnhospitalfoundation.co.nz/surgicalrobot