Mr Taylor and his partner, Tania Rodger, of Wellington, are patrons of the Neonatal Trust, a nationwide charity to support parents of premature and sick babies.
Its Otago launch was held in Dunedin yesterday.
The trust will also raise funds for research, equipment, and staff training.
Mr Taylor said people's heartstrings were more easily pulled by fundraising images of sick toddlers than tiny newborns.
Recounting his own experience, Mr Taylor said he and his partner, who last year celebrated 28 years together, thought children were not on the cards until Ms Rodger became pregnant seven years ago.
Despite a smooth pregnancy, their full-term "huge 10-pounder" son, Sam, was born with a condition called supraventricular tachycardia which entailed a "short-wiring" between the baby's heart and brain, making it beat 200 times a minute.
Also, a few days after birth, the condition caused a blood clot to rupture his bowel, prompting an emergency response from doctors.
Despite the tremendous dedication and skill of medical professionals, Mr Taylor felt there was a "huge hole" in the system for a national support network.
When his son was born, it was an extremely busy time at special effects company Weta Workshop, and Mr Taylor continued to go to work each day, spending nights at the hospital.
Ms Rodger said Sam was this week awarded second in his year for athletics, proof children who had a tough start could achieve.
"They can get there, and they can make you proud."
Otago District Health Board paediatrician Dr David Barker, speaking at the launch, said Dunedin Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit cared for about 250 babies a year, with capacity for 16 at a time.
Babies of 23 weeks' gestation and upward could be cared for.
Despite the fact the unit was in "desperate need" of an upgrade to meet national and international standards, it offered a high level of care, which was a tribute to its staff.
"Some of our patients will frequently be the sickest and most vulnerable in the hospital," Dr Barker said.
