New report reveals children and elderly bear the brunt of respiratory disease as hospitalisations rise
A new report from the University of Otago indicates that respiratory hospitalizations in New Zealand have risen by 16% over three years. Children and the elderly are identified as the most vulnerable groups, prompting calls for increased vaccination funding.
Why it matters
The findings highlight a growing public health challenge and the need for targeted government intervention in respiratory disease prevention.
New Zealand's youngest and oldest account for more than two thirds of respiratory hospitalisations, a new report shows, as admission rates for lung disease climb 16% in three years.
The ' The impact of respiratory disease in New Zealand: 2025 update ' report – commissioned by the Cardiac and Respiratory Foundation NZ and prepared by University of Otago – reveals the number of respiratory hospitalisations climbed from 80,230 in 2022 to 97,151 in 2025 (a 16% increase when adjusted for population). Children under 15 and adults over 65 account for about 70% of all admissions.
For the first time, the report also includes thoracic (lung) cancer, revealing it caused nearly 2000 deaths in 2022 alone, with Māori dying at nearly three times the rate of other New Zealanders.
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