New Zealand’s heart healthcare system has been described as having “deep flaws”, “failing in all aspects”, and being “on the verge of collapse” according to a damning new report.
The Heart Disease in Aotearoa: Morbidity, Mortality, and Service Delivery report released this morning was commissioned by The Heart of Aotearoa – Kia Manawanui Trust and prepared by the University of Otago.
It found that heart disease accounted for 5% of hospital admissions and 20% of deaths in New Zealand. Māori and Pacific people were disproportionately affected, dying on average a decade earlier than other ethnic groups. Around one-fifth of New Zealanders were currently taking heart-related medication.
Another finding was that heart disease cost the country $13.8 billion annually, factoring in hospitalisations, prescriptions, primary care, premature deaths, and lost productivity.
In 2024, Ministry of Health data showed New Zealand had 173.2 full-time cardiologists, or 32.8 per million, well below the European average of 95 per million. Auckland was the only region close to that benchmark.
Several districts, including Tairāwhiti, Lakes, and Whanganui, had no cardiologists or cardiac staff at all according the Ministry data, but the Medical Council reported significantly higher numbers.
“This contrasting data shows that the Ministry of Health is not tracking cardiac staffing levels accurately. It is therefore unclear how the Ministry of Health proposes to address cardiac staffing inadequacies when it is unaware of their extent,” the report read.
Kia Manawanui Trust chief executive Letitia Harding said the report pointed to a system under severe strain.
“Heart care in New Zealand isn’t just stretched, it’s on the verge of collapse. We are failing on all aspects, and it’s costing New Zealanders their lives.”
The trust’s medical director Dr Sarah Fairley, a Wellington-based cardiologist, said the findings matched up with what frontline clinicians were seeing daily.
“From inside the system, I can tell you that this report reflects what we see every day: a workforce stretched beyond safe limits, patients slipping through the cracks, and no end in sight.”
Recommendations from the report included urgent action and investment in cardiology staffing and infrastructure in the Midland and Central regions to ensure equitable access to care.
It called for prioritising recruitment and retention of cardiac specialists in high-need areas, establishing a dedicated fund to train and employ 15 new cardiac sonographers annually, and requiring hospital bosses to promptly replace and advertise cardiac roles.
The report also urged Health New Zealand to maintain a national record of cardiac staff and expand bed capacity in tertiary hospitals to reduce treatment delays.
Health NZ committed to equitable cardiac service
In response to the report’s findings, Health NZ cardiac network co-lead Cara Wasywich said the organisation was committed to equitable access to cardiac services for all New Zealanders regardless of where they lived.
“We accept that levels of heart disease hospitalisation and mortality rates vary in some parts of the country, which is why the National Clinical Cardiac Network was set up.
“The Network is focussed on addressing variations in service quality and patient outcomes, by developing national standards and models of care, as well as establishing dedicated work streams to ensure consistent, quality care.”
Health NZ acknowledged growing its senior doctor and specialist doctor workforce could be a challenge in some areas and specialities.
“Health New Zealand remains committed to retaining and growing our permanent medical workforce.”
