Released today, the 2026 report identifies three priority health areas for tamariki and rangatahi: respiratory conditions, rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (ARF and RHD), and mental health. For the first time, the report also includes a focus on neurodevelopmental conditions, namely ADHD and autism, as a result of increases in diagnoses.

The report, developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service at the University of Otago, shows hospital admissions for deadly yet preventable illnesses, including rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, have risen again to pre-Covid-19 levels.

New Zealand is also experiencing record rates of hospitalisations of children for acute respiratory conditions with common causes including upper respiratory tract infections, bronchiolitis, and asthma. Since 2000, hospitalisation rates for acute respiratory conditions in children and adolescents have increased 60%.

Child health inequities persist in Aotearoa New Zealand, with the report revealing details of the alarming reality that tamariki Māori and Pacific children, as well as those living in areas with the greatest socioeconomic deprivation, are disproportionately affected by all three priority health areas. This is particularly evident in cases of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, where hospitalisation rates could be reduced by more than 85% if inequities by ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation were eliminated.

Frances Soutter, CEO of Cure Kids says reversing these trends will require urgent, deliberate, and bipartisan action.

“The findings in the report are deeply concerning and show we are going backwards. Too many children in Aotearoa are being hospitalised for illnesses we know are preventable, with the burden falling disproportionately on some of our most vulnerable tamariki. As the caring New Zealanders we know we are, how can we allow this to keep happening? These hospitalisations numbers aren’t just statistics, these predict the future of our most precious tamariki, and the future of New Zealand” says Soutter.

“Addressing this needs sustained and purposeful effort from both the public and private sectors to ensure better outcomes for our children. This includes tackling the drivers of child poverty and ensuring equitable access to healthcare, nutrition and warm, healthy homes. Long-term investment in child health research, particularly research focused on prevention, is critical. By better understanding and preventing illness early, we can reduce pressure on our healthcare system and give all children in Aotearoa the opportunity to thrive. A worthy investment in our future generations.”

Some key findings from the Cure Kids 2026 State of Child Health Report include:

Respiratory Conditions:

• Over the past 25 years, hospitalisation rates for acute respiratory conditions in children and adolescents have increased by 60%. Aotearoa New Zealand is now experiencing record rates of hospitalisations of children with respiratory conditions.
• One in five hospitalisations of children and adolescents in Aotearoa are for acute respiratory conditions. For infants aged one year and younger, more than one in three hospitalisations are for acute respiratory conditions.
• Hospitalisation rates are disproportionately high for Pacific children, tamariki Māori, and children living in the most deprived areas.
• The report calls for funding of new medication, nirsevimab for all infants to reduce RSV-associated hospitalisations; universal funding of annual influenza vaccinations for children aged five years and under; and improving access to warm, dry, and affordable housing.

Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease (ARF/RHD):

• Rates of hospitalisations for ARF and RHD have increased to pre-pandemic levels.
• Compared to non-Māori, non-Pacific children, Pacific children are 43 times as likely and tamariki Māori are 16 times as likely to be hospitalised for ARF or RHD.
• Hospitalisations for ARF or RHD could be reduced by more than 85% if inequities by ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation were eliminated.
• Key recommendations in the report include ensuring timely, equitable access to primary care for the early treatment of Group A Streptococcus infections; working with Pacific communities, primary healthcare organisations, and schools to implement and co-design ideas outlined in the Rheumatic Fever Roadmap and the New Zealand ARF and RHD guidelines; and continued funding of research focused on a diagnostic test for ARF and the development of a Group A Streptococcus vaccine.

Mental Health:

• More than 1 in 5 young people report serious psychological distress, four times the rate seen 13 years ago
• Hospitalisations for mental health concerns among adolescents aged 15–19 years increased from 1 per 1,000 in the year 2000, to 9 per 1,000 in 2019. From 2022 onwards there have been downward trends in rates, but we still have a long way to go.
• The report highlights the need for high-quality, New Zealand-specific epidemiological data to better understand the scale of mental health difficulties for young people so that the care provided matches need. It also calls for increased investment in easily accessible and timely mental health services.

Neurodevelopmental Conditions (ADHD and autism):

• Males were more than 3 times as likely as females to have received a diagnosis of ADHD or autism.
• Co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions were common for children and adolescents with autism and ADHD, including specific learning disorders, intellectual disability, and communication and language disorders.
• Survey data shows that there have been increases in diagnosed ADHD and diagnosed autism in children and young people over time.
• The report recommends ensuring timely diagnosis and early and ongoing support for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions; creating clear, integrated pathways across health, education, and community services; and improving responsiveness to co‑existing mental health needs through both mainstream and specialist services.

Cure Kids is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest charitable organisation dedicated to funding research that addresses major health issues impacting our tamariki. Through collaboration with expert advisors and researchers, Cure Kids aims to improve child health outcomes and equity across Aotearoa.

Read the full State of Child Health in Aotearoa New Zealand 2026 report here