Otago Community Hospice

What Otago Community Hospice does

Otago Community Hospice is a registered New Zealand charitable trust (Charity No: CC20590) founded in 1986 and headquartered at 293 North Road, North East Valley, Dunedin. It provides specialist palliative care services free of charge to patients with terminal illness — including cancer, Motor Neurone Disease, heart failure, COPD and AIDS — across the entire Otago region, from coast to coast and from Waitaki down to Tapanui. Service delivery is structured around four community teams based in Dunedin, Central Otago (Cromwell), North Otago (Oamaru) and South Otago (Balclutha), supported by a dedicated inpatient unit in Dunedin for acute symptom management. The organisation also runs structured whānau/carer education through the Kōwhai Programme (created 2010 in collaboration with the University of Otago) and the Ending Life Well podcast (29 episodes). Paid headcount is approximately 100 staff with 81% in patient-care roles, augmented by nearly 400 volunteers contributing 40,000+ hours annually across service, retail and fundraising functions. Care is delivered in patients' own homes, in residential care facilities, and in the inpatient unit; a 24/7 telephone advice line supports patients, whānau and clinicians irrespective of programme enrolment.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding stack. Te Whatu Ora (the New Zealand government health authority, via the former Southern District Health Board) provides approximately 56% of the ~NZ$7M annual operating cost. The remaining ~44% — annually targeted at NZ$3M to NZ$5M depending on year — is raised through community channels: individual donations, corporate partnerships, grant applications, bequests managed by the Gordon Allen Foundation Trust, a portfolio of seven hospice charity shops across Otago, and recurring fundraising events (Pioneer Energy Central Otago Dinner, AGT and Edinburgh Women's Golf Classics, street appeals, Charity Car Cruise, Hospice Awareness Week). Operational scale metrics include over 1,000 patients and whānau supported per year, approximately 280 families on service at any given time, and nearly 14,500 community visits and phone calls annually. Pricing to patients is zero across all clinical touchpoints; memorial walkway plaques are sold at NZ$275 and golf tournament entries at NZ$300/team of three as fundraising instruments rather than service revenue.

There is no proprietary technology platform. The organisation's technical footprint comprises a standard CMS website (built by Firebrand on the Hail platform), podcast distribution across Spotify/Apple/Google/iHeart, standard social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and an online fundraising presence via Givealittle and text-to-donate. Patient care and clinical education are delivered face-to-face and via Zoom. Strategic differentiation rests on four decades of community trust, regional monopoly coverage, and a deeply embedded volunteer, donor, corporate and grant-partner ecosystem rather than on any technology or AI capability.

Name

Otago Community Hospice

Legal name

Otago Community Hospice

Website

https://otagohospice.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Otago Community Hospice is a New Zealand charitable trust founded in 1986 providing free specialist palliative care to over 1,000 patients and their whānau annually across the Otago region, operating four community teams, an inpatient unit in Dunedin, and seven fundraising charity shops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Routine In-Home Hospice Care (HSABAFAA), Hospice Care in Assisted Living / Residential Care Facilities (HLADAHAE), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK), End-of-Life 24/7 In-Home Care (Hospice Support) (HSABAHAG)

Keywords

• Palliative care services
• Hospice care
• Community healthcare
• End-of-life care
• Specialist palliative care

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunedin

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Te Whatu Ora): The Government provides approximately 56% of the Hospice's annual funding through Te Whatu Ora. This covers a portion of the approximately $7 million annual operating cost.
2. Community Fundraising: The Hospice must fundraise approximately $5 million annually (some sources cite $3–3.5 million depending on year) to cover the gap between government funding and total operating costs. Fundraising is achieved through community events, individual donations, corporate partnerships, and grant applications.
3. Hospice Charity Shops: Seven hospice charity shops throughout Otago (Dunedin, Mosgiel, Oamaru, Cromwell, Alexandra, Milton, Wānaka) generate revenue through sale of donated goods. These shops are a critical part of fundraising efforts.
4. Bequests and Legacies: Bequests left to Otago Community Hospice via wills are managed on behalf by The Gordon Allen Foundation Trust. These legacy gifts support long-term financial sustainability.
5. Memorial Walkway Plaques: Cast bronze memorial plaques are sold for $275 each along the Memorial Walkway sponsored by Mitre 10 Mega Dunedin, providing a memorial giving option for supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Otago Community Hospice provides specialist palliative care free of charge to patients with terminal illness (cancer, Motor Neurone Disease, heart failure, COPD, AIDS, etc.) across the entire Otago region of New Zealand. Care is delivered primarily in patients' own homes through four regional community teams (Dunedin, Central Otago, North Otago, South Otago), in residential care facilities, and in a dedicated Inpatient Unit in Dunedin for acute symptom management. Supporting services include family/whānau carer education through the Kōwhai Programme, the Ending Life Well podcast, counselling, social work, spiritual care, 24/7 advice, and professional palliative care education for the health sector.

Product overview

Otago Community Hospice is a healthcare charity providing specialist palliative care services free of charge across the entire Otago region. The organization operates four community teams (Dunedin, Central Otago, North Otago, and South Otago) plus an inpatient unit in Dunedin. Key services include the Kōwhai Programme (family carer education), the Ending Life Well Podcast (29-episode audio series), hospice shops for fundraising, Memorial Walkway memorialization services, and professional palliative care education programmes for health providers. All services are provided at no cost to patients and their whānau.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kōwhai Programme: Family carer education programme providing education and support for whānau caring for loved ones on the Otago Community Hospice Programme. Created in 2010.
• Ending Life Well Podcast
• Hospice Shops

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 patients and whānau supported per year; approximately 280 families on the service at any given time.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Pioneer EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of the Central Otago Pioneer Dinner. Recently appointed CEO Peter McClean has voiced strong support for hospice fundraising. Gold supporter tier.
• Mercy Hospital Dunedin LtdmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum supporter of Otago Community Hospice. Regional hospital providing healthcare services in Dunedin.
• Cooke HowlisoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold supporter. Hosted the Cooke Howlison Lexus Expo event supporting hospice, donating $100 per test drive taken during the event.
• Mitre 10 Mega DunedincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold supporter and sponsor of the Memorial Walkway and the annual Rotary Christmas 'Shed' Raffle. Runs an 'add a dollar' campaign during Hospice Awareness Week.
• Edinburgh RealtymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver supporter. Title sponsor of the Edinburgh Women's Golf Tournament.
• Farmers New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partner. Runs the annual Farmers Christmas Campaign with limited-edition baubles and Trees of Remembrance. Raised $30,372 for Otago Community Hospice in 2025.
• BNI (Business Network International)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partner. BNI chapters (Octagon, Larnach, Latitude 45, Wanaka, Aspire) regularly organize fundraising events for hospice including the annual Bingo Bonanza and Ice Bath Challenge.
• House of TravelmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partner supporting hospice as a community cause.
• HarcourtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partner. The Harcourts Foundation has provided grants and the Harcourts team organizes events like the annual Harcourts Hospice Degustation (raised $16,000).
• EveryWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree online will-writing platform partnered with Otago Community Hospice to offer supporters free online wills when leaving a bequest to the hospice.
• Otago University / Otago PolytechnicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative education partnerships for palliative care education delivery and research. The Kōwhai Programme was created in response to research done in collaboration with the University of Otago in 2010.
• Southern District Health Board Palliative Care TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative education study days run jointly with the Southern DHB's Palliative Care Team.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/otagocommunityhospice
• Instagraminstagram.com/otagocommunityhospice
• Xx.com/ochbutterfly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/otago-community-hospice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Otago Community Hospice