A new nationwide survey has painted a concerning picture of New Zealanders’ health, revealing that many people are living with long-term health conditions, struggling with stress and fatigue, and delaying medical treatment due to financial and access barriers.
According to a report by Stuff, the findings come from the first annual Health of New Zealand survey, which found that nearly half of respondents live with a long-term health condition, while around a quarter said their condition regularly affects daily life.
Stress, burnout, physical exhaustion and chronic pain were identified as common challenges, with fatigue and sleep-related issues also affecting a significant portion of the population. One in four respondents reported that their health had worsened over the past year.
Among the most frequently cited health concerns were fitness and general well-being, weight management, ageing, and mental health, as reported by Stuff.
Despite these concerns, many New Zealanders are not seeking timely medical help. The survey found that while 45% of respondents take long-term prescription medication, 70% have delayed seeking healthcare because of costs, limited access, or uncertainty about whether their condition was serious enough to warrant a doctor’s visit, Stuff has reported.
Public confidence in the healthcare system also appears strained. Nearly 90% of respondents expressed concerns about the state of New Zealand’s health services, citing issues such as GP costs, limited appointment availability, emergency department wait times, workforce shortages, delayed surgeries, access to specialist care, health data security, and healthcare equity.
Only 11% of those surveyed said they were not particularly concerned about the healthcare system, Stuff has reported.
The survey also highlighted inequalities linked to income. While two-thirds of New Zealanders rated their overall health as good, very good, or excellent, higher-income earners consistently reported better health outcomes.
Almost 80% of people earning more than $200,000 annually described their health positively, compared with just 53% of those earning less than $50,000 a year, as reported by Stuff.
Lower-income households were also more likely to report worsening health over the previous 12 months. The survey found that people with higher incomes were more likely to eat fruit and vegetables regularly, exercise frequently, enjoy better sleep, and were less likely to depend on long-term prescription medication.
Mental well-being emerged as another major concern. In the month before the survey was conducted, 44% of respondents reported feeling anxious, while 42% said they felt low, down, or emotionally flat. A similar proportion felt overwhelmed, and 39% struggled to switch off or relax mentally, Stuff has reported.
However, the survey also identified some positive signs. Forty-two per cent of respondents said they felt calm and in control, while 34% reported feeling optimistic about the future.
The annual survey aims to provide an ongoing snapshot of the nation’s health and wellbeing, with future reports expected to explore issues such as sleep deprivation, awareness of pharmacy services, and reasons people delay dental and eye care, as reported by Stuff.