Abstract
This short report outlines preliminary findings of a geospatial analysis of the distribution of the physiotherapy workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand in relation to the 2018 Census population, and to population demographic characteristics of Māori and Pacific ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, and rurality. It finds that although New Zealand has a slightly above-average clinician-to-population ratio for physiotherapy compared with other OECD countries, this workforce is not evenly distributed and inequities in geographic access exist. Locations were identified where variations in physiotherapy distribution and health care need (per proxy measures of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and rurality) are not aligned. These resulting disparities in mismatch in supply and demand are targets for dedicated policy development and service planning to close the gaps between geographic location of population health need and physiotherapy provision.