Only nine paediatric respiratory specialists serve all of New Zealand, creating a postcode lottery

An audit conducted by Asthma NZ together with the University of Auckland mapped the distribution of paediatric respiratory specialists in New Zealand and identified a severe shortage: only nine public doctors serve more than 600,000 children nationwide. These clinicians are concentrated in Auckland and Christchurch, requiring them to fly to remote areas, and fourteen regions lack any dedicated service. Four districts—Tairāwhiti, Whanganui, Wairarapa and the West Coast—have no respiratory physician at all, raising concerns about access to life-saving care.

The report warns that the system could collapse if a specialist leaves, and it highlights a broader shortfall of 35 adult respiratory specialists. Researchers have assembled a multidisciplinary group to draft a national strategy, awaiting collaboration with the incoming government. Health New Zealand acknowledges the audit and is reviewing its findings before commenting further.