17/09/2026
Photo of busy station entrance users walking past new artwork.
Nau mai Haere mai ki Kohanga
Welcome to spring
Ngaa ringa ringa manaaki
The caring hands
E tipu e puawai i roto i te kotahitanga
Let us grow and blossom as one
Welcome to this spring edition of our newsletter. While it's warming up a little outside, it certainly doesn't feel like spring in the hospital, where we're seeing unprecedented numbers of patients presenting with winter flu and other winter ailments.
It's hard to see the hospital become the centre of our community for something so painful for patients and their families. It's also hard to see how tough the increased admissions are on the incredible teams who support the people who find themselves here. It's not easy, and I'm in complete awe of everyone tirelessly working through these stressful conditions to help people return home healthy again.
I'm also in awe of our supporters, who understand that while they can't make a person well, they can support the hospital's people, its healing spaces, its equipment – and help bring comfort and warmth to a patient while they're with us.
I understand the flu has peaked, and hopefully we'll start to see a reduction in admissions. But for now, I hope – like me – you'll spare a thought for every person who finds themselves, or a family member, in the care of our hospital, and for the tireless team working to support them.
As you will see as you read through our newsletter, it's been a very busy winter at the Foundation, and we're so pleased with everything we've managed to achieve – from our record winter campaign that saw over 38,000 children receive jammies, to refreshing the hospital's station entrance – all of which happened through the generosity of our incredible donors.
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Margi Mellsop
CEO
A warmer welcome at Middlemore's station entrance
Te Wiki o te Reo Maaori (Maaori Language Week) saw the official blessing – Whakawaatea – of the refreshed Middlemore Station Entrance. The project began when our CEO, Margi Mellsop, walked through the entrance and saw an elderly woman sitting on the floor waiting for her taxi. Working with the hospital's infrastructure and tikanga teams, they have created a more comfortable, welcoming start or end to everyone's journey through these doors.
The new entrance features seating, improved landscaping, and toi Maaori telling the story of Te Oorokohanga mai o Tainui Waka, made possible through the generosity of Middlemore Foundation donors Rano Community Trust and New Horizons Community Trust
33,107 tamariki wrapped in aroha
This winter, Dame Valerie Adams’ Jammie Army provided 33,107 tamariki in our community a pair of snuggly new Jammies, smashing the 25,000 goal. With the campaign expanding into Wellington this year, 38,807 tamariki across Aotearoa are sleeping warmer!
Pacific Representation in our health workforce is growing
One News reported this year on the growing number of Pasifika doctors entering New Zealand's health workforce. It's heartening to see the real impact initiatives like the Pacific Health Science Academy are having.
Middlemore Foundation's Pacific Workforce Development programme supports Academy graduates with scholarships and cadetships into a career in health – made possible by the generosity of our donors.
Read more
10 new cots for Kidz First
Thanks to generous support from our donors, including Rapid Relief Team, Hynds Foundation, Keliher Trust and Highbrook Rotary Fun Run, Middlemore’s littlest patients (and their exhausted parents) now resting in 10 brand-new specialist paediatric cots designed with their comfort and safety in mind. The new cots replace beds that had been in use for more than 25 years.
National Social Workers Day
Liam, National Burns Centre Social Worker shares a glimpse into his mahi and what a day looks like supporting patients recovering from serious burns.
Thanks to our donors, social workers can also provide practical essentials when patients need them most.
Hear Liam talk about his mahi
Vroom vroom!
SmartCarte's donation of Kiddie Kruzzers to Kidz First is bringing a little fun and freedom to tamariki spending time in hospital. For toddlers, the carts offer a welcome change of scenery from their hospital room, while siblings can climb aboard too, giving them something fun to focus on in an environment that can feel very unfamiliar and sterile.
It’s a small thing, but for children and whaanau spending time in hospital, those moments of fun can make a big difference.
New warmers for Middlemore's newborns
Around 10,000 babies are born at Middlemore Hospital each year, including many premature and low-birthweight babies who need extra support in their first moments of life, like baby Ara-Moana pictured.
Thanks to a generous grant from Four Winds Foundation, 10 new infant warmers are now in use at
Middlemore, replacing equipment that was more than 20 years old.
Keeping burn recovery moving
Recovery from a serious burn doesn’t end when the wounds heal. Scarring can cause ongoing pain,
itching and restricted movement, making everyday life more difficult.
Thanks to New Horizons Community Trust, Middlemore's National Burns Centre's has a new CO₂ laser scanner to soften and remodel scar tissue, improving flexibility and movement, and for some patients, easing itching within a day.
Read more about the laser treatment
Keeping our babies warm
Be part of Kidz First Christmas
Our Kidz First Christmas Appeal is coming soon, and we’d love to have you involved. Register your interest and we’ll be in touch when the appeal is ready to get underway.
