Respiratory disease put 97,000 people in hospital in 2025
New data shows respiratory disease hospitalizations in New Zealand surged to over 97,000 in 2025, costing the economy $11.5 billion annually. The Cardiac and Respiratory Foundation is calling for targeted interventions, including funding for the RSV vaccine, to address the disproportionate impact on children, the elderly, and Māori and Pacific communities.
Why it matters
The report highlights a growing public health crisis and significant economic burden, emphasizing the need for equitable healthcare policy and preventative measures.
There were more than 97,000 hospitalisations last year due to respiratory disease.
New data from the Cardiac and Respiratory Foundation reveals admissions have surged in the three years to 2025 - from 80,230 in 2022 to 97,151 in 2025.
Children aged under 14 and adults over 65 years old made up 70 percent of all hospital admissions
The data also showed respiratory disease cost the New Zealand economy about $11.5 billion dollars annually, an increase of three billion on the three years prior.
Foundation chief executive Letitia Harding said there needed to be more than a blanket national response.
"We need to be really looking at ways we can target more effectively, to impact obviously the health and well-being from a respiratory space, but also the impact from a financial burden on the hospital system as well and the healthcare system," she said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in