About

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are distressing and potentially life-threatening conditions that affect New Zealanders from all walks of life. The statistics are sobering:

• New Zealand has one of the world's highest asthma rates and the fourth highest asthma-related hospital admission rates in the OECD
• Around one is six New Zealanders of all ages has asthma
• One in four New Zealand children has asthma
• Asthma is one of the most common causes of admission to hospital for children 
• On average, more than 60 New Zealanders die from asthma each year
• COPD is the fourth top cause of death in NZ and the eighth top cause of disability


We have a 20-year track record of preventing asthma and other respiratory conditions, and helping affected New Zealanders to live the best possible lives through:

• Education programmes, frontline support and resources for schools, marae, homes, work places and communities
• Training, education and support for people with asthma and their families
• Delivering tertiary-level courses in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to health professionals 
• Work towards eradicating asthma and respiratory conditions by supporting ongoing research