24/04/2026
Pioneering cancer rehabilitation in NZ
20 years ago, it wasn’t part of cancer care. So we built it.
It began in a physiotherapy clinic - with a belief that recovery mattered just as much as treatment.
So we started by building capability. Training physiotherapists. Creating a network. Establishing a new standard of care.
As the work grew, so did the trust - with oncology teams, with patients, with communities.
People are referred to us when they are at their lowest point; some can’t walk to the letterbox, return to work, or care for their children. Others are too fatigued, anxious, or deconditioned to begin recovery on their own.
Through access to cancer rehabilitation, we support faster recovery, greater independence, and a return to everyday life - with the benefits extending beyond the individual to their whānau, as they get back on their feet and participate in life again after treatment.
Creating change in the health system is not easy. With a small team, we’ve focused on what we can control and where we can make a real difference. Rather than waiting for change, we’ve built it. Step by step, service by service, person by person.
This has only been possible through the collective effort of our community - from thousands of volunteer hours at Board level to the individuals who give their time on the ground, supporting events, fundraising, and connection across the county.
Alongside this, we are incredibly grateful to our physio providers and the partners who have walked with us over the years.
To date, we have invested more than $5 million into funding cancer rehabilitation for people who could not otherwise afford it or were unable to work.
And while there is still more to do to ensure equitable access for all, we’ve continued to invest everything we have — at every stage — into expanding support for those who need it most.
What started small has grown into a trusted part of cancer care, helping people reclaim their lives after cancer.
If you’d like to be part of what comes next, we’d love to hear from you.
https://www.cancerrehab.org.nz/get-involved/volunteer
