A new space to bring better health and brighter futures

Thanks to one extraordinarily generous donor who left a gift in his Will to Starship, the Foundation has been able to purchase and redevelop a building close to our national children’s hospital.  

This new facility will bring Starship’s clinicians together to innovate, research and train together, all with the vision of better health and brighter futures for the benefit of generations of New Zealand children to come.  

A first of its kind at Starship, this development will be a game-changer, enhancing our ability to deliver child health equity, innovation, and excellence at Starship. 

The building is currently under re-development, before opening in mid-2023. 

When open, it will house the support team dedicated to facilitating clinical research at Starship, along with the Starship Foundation. It will also feature spaces and resources for research fellows and clinicians, helping drive progress and innovation at our national children’s hospital. 

Crucially, the centre will also foster collaboration between staff and stakeholders within the wider Starship whānau and children’s health sector, with welcoming spaces for people to stop, connect and train with each other. 

To this end, the building will have an innovation lab, impact zone, spaces for food, coffee, and conversation, as well as an education/seminar room and telehealth facilities. 

To embody the intention of the facility, a cultural narrative based on the pipiwharauroa (shining cuckoo) was gifted to Starship by Dame Naida Glavish. 

Guided by TOA Architects, in consultation with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, this narrative has been developed within the design to acknowledge the regional context - whenua, rohe and takiwā. The interior and exterior embraces Māori cultural design features of te whare tapa whā, manaakitanga and tikanga (elements of well-being and cultural values). 

Starship Child Health, Starship Foundation, TOA Architects, Studio DB, and Frequency have worked collaboratively on this ground-breaking project.   

First and foremost, it represents a step-change in Starship’s strategic vision to lead equity, innovation and excellence in child health for our children. By giving our clinicians a dedicated space, they’ll be able to do their best work. Not only that, it offers a way for the Starship Foundation to include clinicians, staff, and supporters like you in our work, strengthening connections along the way. 

The Starship Foundation is incredibly grateful for the gift that has made this possible. The remarkable generosity and vision of this kind supporter will help drive better health and brighter futures for all New Zealand children for decades to come.