Children's Cancer Services In New Zealand

How common is childhood cancer in New Zealand?

• in New Zealand, about 150 tamariki (birth to 14 years) are diagnosed with cancer each year
• childhood cancer is rare - less than 1 in 100 cancers diagnosed in New Zealand are in tamariki
• more than 80 in 100 patients diagnosed with a childhood cancer are cured as the result of treatment
• an estimated 1 in 900 people aged between 16 and 34 years are childhood cancer survivors

How are children's cancer services organised in New Zealand?

Child cancer care is coordinated across New Zealand by the National Child Cancer Network. That means all tamariki get the best available treatment wherever they live. Survival rates are the same across the whole country.

'Shared care' model to deliver care as close to home as possible

The services use a 'shared care' model for tamariki from centres outside Auckland and Christchurch. The tertiary treatment centres of Auckland and Christchurch partner with the local paediatric team so that as much of the treatment as safely possible can be given close to home.

Your child will have treatment in Auckland or Christchurch and return for treatment at your local hospital. The aim of 'shared care' is to deliver safe, effective and appropriate care by using the paediatric service closest to your family home, as often as is possible, to get the best results for your child.

International collaboration to share results and information and continually improve treatment

New Zealand child cancer services are part of an international network sharing results and information, and cooperating in continually improving treatment. This international collaboration means:

• information and expertise is continually updated
• knowledge remains current and available to all the health professionals involved in the management of childhood cancer across New Zealand
• New Zealand's children's cancer services direct the use of internationally proven treatment protocols and cancer medicines

Read about where to find more information and support

Read more about childhood cancer