Note:

Cardiac and Respiratory Foundation NZ is dedicated to improving heart and lung health outcomes. It brings together the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, Kia Manawanui Trust – The Heart of Aotearoa, Lung Foundation NZ, and the Bronchiectasis Foundation NZ.

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Advocacy

Our advocacy efforts focus on making heart and lung health a national priority, driving investment in prevention, early intervention and equitable care. Key areas include medicines and devices access, workforce shortages, clean air, healthy homes, lung screening, vaccines, vaping and smoking action.

CRNFZ Chief Executive Letitia Harding and Minister of Health the Hon. Simeon Brown

Access to medicines and devices

Too many Kiwis are waiting too long (or going without) treatments and diagnostic tools that are already proven to work.

Air pollution

The air we breathe affects our health. We’re calling for clean air to be treated as a public health priority.

Healthcare workforce

Heart disease is New Zealand's biggest killer, yet the workforce needed to treat it is dangerously thin, and in some parts of the country it barely exists at all.

Healthy homes

The air we breathe directly affects our hearts and lungs. We're calling on the Government to treat clean air as the public health priority it is.

Lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is New Zealand's deadliest cancer, yet we have no national screening programme. We're calling on the Government to change that.

Political manifesto

Calling on decision-makers to prioritise heart and lung health through early intervention and equitable care.

Pregnancy and heart disease

Heart disease complicates around 1-4% of pregnancies in Aotearoa, yet specialist cardiac care during pregnancy remains out of reach for many New Zealanders.

Spirometry

Driving national spirometry training, standards and advocacy for earlier diagnosis and better respiratory care.

Vaccinations

Vaccines save lives. But for those with heart and respiratory conditions, gaps in New Zealand's vaccination programme leave our most vulnerable unprotected.

Vaping and smoking

New Zealand was once a world leader on smoke-free policy. But we've lost ground, and our kids are paying the price.