NZ Heart Healthcare System “On the Verge of Collapse” – 11 August 2025
A University of Otago report, commissioned by The Heart of Aotearoa – Kia Manawanui Trust, warns that New Zealand’s heart healthcare system is “on the verge of collapse.”
Heart disease is responsible for 5% of hospital admissions and 20% of deaths, costing the country $13.8 billion annually. Māori and Pacific peoples are disproportionately affected, dying on average 10 years earlier than other ethnic groups.
Kia Manawanui Trust Medical Director and Wellington cardiologist Dr Sarah Fairley says the findings mirror daily realities for frontline clinicians:
“A workforce stretched beyond safe limits, patients slipping through the cracks, and no end in sight.”
The report calls for urgent action on workforce shortages, training and retaining cardiac specialists, and expanding hospital capacity.