The survey indicated one in four children lived in households where food ran out often or sometimes. Photo: RNZ / Vinay Ranchhod
The latest Health Survey shows more children are going hungry and wait times for GPs continue to increase, along with rates of mental distress.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said the findings from the annual snapshot highlighted "the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders".
The survey of 9719 adults and 3062 children in 2023/24 found:
- One in four children (27.0 percent) lived in households where food ran out often or sometimes, up from 21.3 percent in 2022/23
- 10.7 percent of adults had an unmet need for professional help for their emotions, stress, mental health or substance use in 2023/24 - more than double the rate of 4.9 percent in 2016/17
- One in 11 adults (9.1 percent) and 8.2 percent of children aged 2-14 years ate the recommended amount of vegetables
- Fewer than half of adults (46.6 percent) met physical activity guidelines, ie at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity in the past week - down from 50.9 percent five years ago
- One in three adults (1.5 million) classified as obese, rising to nearly half of those living in the most deprived neighbourhoods
- Nearly half of adults (44.9 percent) reported unmet need for dental care due to cost. Rates were worse for Māori, Pacific, disabled, people living in the most deprived neighbourhoods and those aged 25-54 years
- One in four adults (25.7 percent) and one in five children (18.5 percent) reported that "time taken to get an appointment was too long" as a barrier to visiting the GP in the 12 months prior to the 2023/24 survey. This is higher than the previous year (21.2 percent for adults and 14.8 percent for children). In 2021/22, the figure was 11.6 percent
Dr Reti said while this year's figure was still too high, he was "pleased to see the rate of growth slow after such significant mismanagement under the previous government".
"I am fully committed to strengthening the health workforce, particularly by training more doctors and primary care specialists, so we can shorten these wait times for appointments.
"We want people to be able to access primary care, so they're not having to visit emergency departments in the first place, and we can reduce pressure on our hospital system."
By growing the broader economy and driving down inflation, the government was working to make it easier for New Zealanders to afford GP visits and buy food, he said.
"Health New Zealand has faced a particularly challenging time during this survey period. I am encouraged to see that overall, 85.4 percent of New Zealanders report being in good health, and I acknowledge Health NZ's role in helping support that.
"I will continue working with associate ministers and agencies to address the challenges this survey identifies, and capitalise on the successes we see such as continued low smoking rates."