Annual health survey shows better overall well-being.
The annual New Zealand Health Survey, conducted from July 2023 to July 2024, has revealed both positive and concerning trends. According to the findings, 85.4% of adults and 96.5% of children reported having good health during this period.
The survey highlighted several improvements, including a decrease in rates of daily smoking and hazardous drinking over the last five years. Additionally, child exposure to second-hand smoke while traveling in the car and inside the home decreased since it was last measured eight years ago.
However, challenges were also identified, such as increased wait times for adults and children to see a general practitioner (GP), visits to the emergency department, and rates of high-level psychological distress. Furthermore, fewer than half of adults met physical activity guidelines, and the rate of children living in households where food ran out often or sometimes increased from the previous year.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti emphasized the importance of monitoring trends over time and committed to addressing the challenges identified by the survey. He highlighted the need for strengthening the health workforce, particularly by training more doctors and primary care specialists, to shorten wait times for appointments and improve access to primary care. The full Health Survey results are available online.