Tiny hands need big hearts
Christchurch Women's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cares for newborns across the South Island who need intensive and specialised care.
Every year, hundreds of babies need specialist care in NICU. Some arrive early. Some arrive critically unwell. For many families, NICU begins without warning and becomes their world for weeks or months.
The current unit was opened in 2005. Since then, demand has grown due to a number of factors, including population growth of 26%, changing demographics and more complex births. NICU is funded for 44 cots but regularly cares for 50 to 60 babies, placing pressure on space, staff and families. In 2025, 59 mothers were transferred out of region because there was not enough space.
Māia Health Foundation is partnering with Health New Zealand supporting the redevelopment of Christchurch Women's Hospital NICU. This is a $16 million project with Māia contributing $2.1 million through the Tiny Hands Need Big Hearts campaign.
Health funding covers the clinical redevelopment. Māia is raising funds for the family-centred spaces and comforts that help parents through some of the hardest days of their lives, including whānau lounges, overnight parent rooms, privacy screens, artwork, breastfeeding chairs and specialist training equipment.
These babies are our future. Let’s give them the best start.
We are proud to have Jason Gunn as our Ambassador. To get a glimpse into the incredible work we've already accomplished together, check out this video and to read more about our current project click here.
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Māia funded a $2m rooftop helipad and clinical unit at Waipapa, cutting emergency response time from 13 to under 5 minutes. In Greymouth, Māia supported the new Te Nīkau Hospital build, and in Christchurch, community support helped add two new ambulances to the city’s fleet.
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Māia raised $6m for Kahurangi, a youth mental health facility offering a warm, culturally safe space. At Christchurch Women’s, a ride-on car helps kids face blood tests with less fear, and the new Kurawaka birthing unit supports families in a calm, postnatal environment.
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New equipment means better care closer to home — from ultrasound services in Kaikōura, to needle-free dental tools for kids. Māia funded a neonatal training manikin, upgraded Burwood’s Spinal Unit with a $2m bequest, and delivered specialist chairs across hospital services.
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A $3.2m Family Hub at Waipapa now offers comfort and connection for families and sixty parent beds let caregivers stay overnight with children. Māia also supports family accommodation, online mental health videos, and sensory kits for whānau new to mental health care.
Every dollar donated directly supports our healthcare projects.
Join us in building a healthier Canterbury
Supporting local projects for a stronger health system in Canterbury
Founded in 2015, we are a charitable foundation that invests in the future health of Canterbury.
Māia Health Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Canterbury communities. Māia is also the official charity for Health New Zealand Canterbury. We work in collaboration with healthcare providers, businesses, individuals and the community, to raise funds for projects that enhance our health system, ensuring our communities receive exceptional care, when and where they need it most.
Together, we've invested over $20 million into transforming health care since 2015 — funding projects big and small to make hospital experiences better for everyone. Help us do even more.
