Abstract
The 2026 State of Child Health in Aotearoa New Zealand report reinforces why our founders championed research as a tool to confront inequities in child health. They believed that no child’s future should be shaped by preventable illness or the circumstances into which they are born, and this report shows how urgent that mission remains.
Respiratory illness continues to be one of the most significant and preventable drivers of harm for children and young people. It accounts for nearly one in five hospital admissions overall and more than one in three among infants. Over the past 25 years, hospitalisation rates for acute respiratory illness have increased by 60%, with current levels at record highs. Infants carry the heaviest burden: bronchiolitis, predominantly caused by RSV, is the leading cause of respiratory hospitalisation in children under two, while asthma and wheeze dominate in those aged 2–9. Repeated severe infections can lead to chronic conditions such as bronchiectasis, a progressive disease that reduces lung function and life expectancy.
The inequities highlighted are stark and unacceptable. Pacific children experience the highest rates of respiratory hospitalisation, followed by tamariki Māori and MELAA children. Socioeconomic deprivation remains a powerful determinant of health outcomes; children living in the most deprived communities are hospitalised far more often and are over three times as likely to be hospitalised for bronchiectasis. Poor housing quality, overcrowding, barriers to accessing primary care, tobacco smoke exposure, and environmental factors compound these disparities.
For Cure Kids, these findings reinforce the vital role of research in driving prevention and system change. The report identifies clear, evidence-based opportunities for improvement, including funding RSV immunisation (nirsevimab) for all infants, universal influenza vaccination for children under five, improving access to warm and healthy housing, and strengthening primary care access. Addressing these determinants could reduce respiratory hospitalisations by at least 23%, easing pressure on health services while significantly improving children’s long-term health.
Updates on mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions further highlight the importance of early intervention and coordinated support to ensure children can thrive.
Overall, the report underscores the urgent need for equity-focused, prevention-driven action. It echoes the founding vision of Cure Kids: that research, collaboration, and targeted investment can reduce preventable illness and ensure every child in Aotearoa New Zealand has the opportunity for a healthy life and a brighter future.