The cost of providing the support children rely on has increased significantly since our sponsorship rate was last reviewed four years ago. 

We've worked hard to keep the sponsorship rate unchanged during that time by making every dollar count. However, rising costs mean each sponsorship dollar no longer goes as far as it once did. 

Rather than reducing the support children receive, we're increasing the sponsorship rate so sponsorship can continue providing education, healthcare, nutritional support and the care of a local church community. 

What isn't changing is the difference your sponsorship makes. Your support will continue helping your sponsored child grow, learn and thrive. 

The sponsorship rate will increase from $56 to $62 per month from 1 October 2026. 

We know this is a challenging time for many families in New Zealand, and we didn't make this decision lightly. 

We've worked hard to keep the sponsorship rate unchanged for the past four years by making every dollar count and looking for other ways to manage rising costs. However, we've now reached the point where the current rate no longer covers the support children rely on. 

Rather than reducing that support, we've chosen to increase the sponsorship rate so children can continue receiving the education, healthcare, nutritional support and encouragement they need to thrive. 

We're deeply grateful for every sponsor who continues to stand alongside their sponsored child. Your support is helping provide hope and opportunity for children who need it most. 

Thank you for your commitment to your sponsored child. Your faithful support is helping change a child's life. 

If you're happy to continue sponsoring at the new rate of $62 per month and pay via direct debit or credit card, no further action is required. We'll automatically update your sponsorship from 1 October 2026. 

If you pay by automatic payment, you will need to update your payment details with your bank. 

If the new rate will be difficult for you, please get in touch. We'd be happy to talk through your options and help you find the approach that's right for your circumstances. 

No. Your sponsorship will continue just as it does today. 

This rate change isn't about changing sponsorship. It's about helping sustain the support children receive through their local Compassion project, including education, healthcare, nutritional support and the care of a local church community. 

What isn't changing is the difference your sponsorship makes. Your ongoing support will continue helping your sponsored child grow, learn, and thrive. 

You may already be giving an additional monthly gift to Critical Needs (previously called Sponsorship Plus). Many sponsors choose to add this optional gift to help meet urgent needs facing children and families in Compassion-supported communities. 

If that's you, thank you. Your extra support is helping provide assistance when urgent needs arise, such as emergency medical care, disaster response and other unexpected situations. 

You have two options. You can continue giving to Critical Needs alongside the new sponsorship rate, or you can choose to redirect some or all of your Critical Needs gift towards your sponsorship. 

Please let us know which option is right for you. We’re happy to talk it through and help you with those changes.

We understand why you might ask this. 

We want to make this as simple as possible for sponsors while ensuring children continue receiving consistent support. Applying the new sponsorship rate automatically means you don't need to take any action if you're happy to continue sponsoring at the new rate. 

Importantly, we're letting you know well in advance of the change. You'll automatically move to the new rate. If you'd like to talk through the options available, we'd love to hear from you before 1 October 2026. 

This approach also helps keep administration costs as low as possible, so more of your giving can continue supporting children and their communities. 

Thank you for your faithful support. We're deeply grateful for your partnership and the difference you're making in the life of your sponsored child. 

Thank you for choosing to stand alongside your sponsored child. 

We understand this may come as a surprise if you've only recently started sponsoring. 

To give new sponsors time to settle into their sponsorship, anyone who began sponsoring between 1 February 2026 and 31 July 2026 will remain on the current rate of $56 per month until 1 April 2027. 

From 1 April 2027, your sponsorship will move to the new rate of $62 per month. 

We hope this gives you time to get to know your sponsored child and experience the difference your support is making before the new rate takes effect. 

The updated sponsorship rate of $62 per month now applies to all new child sponsorships. 

If you're already sponsoring a child at $56 per month, you’ll move to the new rate from 1 October 2026. This gives existing sponsors time to consider the change and ask any questions they may have. 

Our goal is to have all child sponsorships at the same rate, so we can continue providing the support children rely on and keep sponsorship fair and consistent for everyone. 

We understand that this increase may be difficult for some sponsors, and we don't want you to feel you have to make this decision on your own. 

Please get in touch with us. Often there's more than one way we can help, and together we can find the approach that's right for your circumstances. 

For some sponsors, that may mean transferring their support to our Mums and Bubs programme. This programme supports mothers, babies and young children during the first 1,000 days of life, helping give them the best possible start before they're old enough for child sponsorship. 

Whatever you decide, thank you. Your faithful support has already made a real difference in the life of your sponsored child, and we're deeply grateful for your partnership.