Christmas Appeal For Starship: “This Christmas, You Can Help Fill The Empty Chair”

Across New Zealand this Christmas, hundreds of families will face the heartbreaking reality of an empty chair at their Christmas table because their child is too sick or injured to leave Starship Children’s Hospital.

Today, the national Christmas campaign for Starship launches, calling on New Zealanders to donate and help bring children home sooner.

From empty beach chairs and untouched playground swings to half-finished craft tables and quiet backyards, the campaign highlights the everyday places that feel painfully incomplete without a child. Every donation helps deliver specialist care, essential equipment, and supports the Starship National Air Ambulance that brings critically ill children to hospital when every minute counts.

“Christmas should be full of joy and togetherness, but for some families, they will be spending Christmas in Starship Children’s Hospital,” says Starship Foundation CEO, Jo Simon. “Our campaign is a reminder that behind every empty chair is a child fighting to get well, and that New Zealanders have the power to help.”

For those travelling this festive season, a powerful Starship photo gallery will be on display at Auckland Airport’s domestic and international terminals from December 2nd. The images offer an intimate look into the lives of families spending Christmas in hospital, bringing the campaign’s message into one of the country’s busiest holiday touchpoints. 

Airport staff will also be collecting donations on behalf of Starship, giving travellers an easy way to contribute.

Real Families. Real Empty Chairs.

Emily, 6 (Auckland, formerly Gisborne)
Emily will spend her third Christmas at Starship. Born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1, her health is fragile, and even a simple cold can become life-threatening. Twice, the Starship National Air Ambulance rushed her to Auckland for urgent care, flights her mum Marion says “saved her life.” With frequent treatment needs, the family moved from Gisborne to Auckland to stay close to Starship. “We’d love to be home for Christmas,” says Marion, “but the kindness here, the staff, the strangers who donate, all brings magic into a place that can be really hard.”

Briar, 18 months (Whanganui)
Two weeks ago, toddler Briar underwent complex spinal surgery at Starship to prevent losing the ability to walk. The operation carried serious risks, and her parents endured some terrifying moments as Briar fought fevers and complications. “She’s such a little trooper,” says her mum Olivia. “The care has been absolutely exceptional.”

Keaki, 9 months (Auckland)
Baby Keaki has spent almost every day of his life at Starship. Born with a hole in his diaphragm, he has needed major surgery and months in Starship’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. His parents rarely leave his side. “Our dream Christmas would be to have Keaki home,” says Mum, Ruria. “Starship is helping us believe that’s possible.”

Maya, 16 (Auckland)
Teenager Maya is receiving treatment to manage epilepsy, something she has lived with since age six. Between school exams, rowing, singing, and time with friends, she regularly returns to Starship for support. “Everyone is so friendly. I feel valued and respected,” she says. This Christmas, Maya hopes to be well enough to enjoy her family’s annual dumpling-making tradition.

Every donation this Christmas will help to provide the very best care for kids like Emily, Briar, Keaki, and Maya, supporting specialist services, equipment, research, and the Air Ambulance flights that save children’s lives.

Donate today at GivetoStarship.org.nz
This Christmas, you can help fill the empty chair.

About Starship Foundation

Thanks to the generosity and compassion of everyday New Zealanders the Starship Foundation has generated more than $250 million for Starship, our national children’s hospital, since 1992, helping to ensure all children in Aotearoa New Zealand have access to world-class healthcare. These critical funds are invested in research, technology, equipment and impact programmes that save and improve lives. Recently, this has included an expansion and upgrade of New Zealand’s only dedicated Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship and ongoing support for the Starship National Air Ambulance which retrieves a critically ill or injured child every 48 hours and flies them to Starship for specialist care.

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