Listen Now: 
March 28, 2026
#hauora: Child respiratory hospitalisations surge as calls grow for urgent government action
Matthew Tukaki
Posted On March 28, 2026
Health advocates are urging immediate government intervention as new data shows a sharp rise in respiratory illness among children across Aotearoa.
The latest Cure Kids 2026 State of Child Health Report reveals hospitalisation rates for acute respiratory conditions in children and adolescents have increased by 60 percent over the past 25 years. Respiratory illnesses now account for one in five hospital admissions for young people, and more than one in three for infants under one year old.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ says the figures highlight a growing crisis, with many of these illnesses considered preventable. The organisation is calling for urgent investment in prevention measures, including funding for RSV protection, expanded access to free flu vaccinations, and improvements to housing conditions.
Foundation Chief Executive Letitia Harding says the rising number of children struggling to breathe and requiring hospital care should be a major concern. She points to recent decisions that have reduced access to flu vaccines for some high-risk groups and delayed the rollout of new RSV protections, saying the consequences are now becoming evident.
Health experts are pushing for the Government to fund nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody that protects against RSV, particularly for infants who are most vulnerable. They also want free flu vaccinations extended to more children and sustained investment in warm, dry and affordable housing.
Medical Director Professor Bob Hancox says the report highlights significant inequities, with Māori, Pacific and low-income families disproportionately affected. He says the data shows many hospitalisations could be avoided through relatively straightforward interventions.
Short-term solutions include expanding access to RSV protection and flu vaccines, while longer-term changes are needed to address broader issues such as housing quality, access to primary healthcare, and underlying socio-economic disparities.
Nirsevimab has already been shown internationally to reduce RSV rates and is currently under consideration by Medsafe and Pharmac in New Zealand.
Health leaders say without urgent action, the trend is likely to continue, placing further pressure on hospitals and leaving vulnerable children at risk of repeated illness.
RELATED NEWS
