The Ministry of Health has released national survey data revealing the scale of long Covid in New Zealand. By June 2025, more than 400,000 Kiwi adults have experienced long Covid at some point, with around 185,000 still living with ongoing symptoms.
The survey found women, Māori, and disabled adults were more likely to report long Covid. Nearly half of those who developed the condition were still symptomatic when surveyed between July 2024 and June 2025, pointing to a persistent issue with clear implications for workforce participation and economic productivity.
Long Covid Support Aotearoa says it only recently learned the national health survey included a Long Covid question, raising concerns about transparency and timeliness in the release of publicly funded data.
“We’re surprised it took so long for the data to become public — nine months after the survey ended,” said spokesperson Larisa Hockey.
The delayed release raises questions about government efficiency and whether taxpayers are getting value from their health ministry investments. Just last week, the group had called for better national monitoring of long Covid, citing overseas prevalence studies that estimated roughly 250,000 Kiwis could be affected.
“Today’s survey suggests about 185,000 New Zealanders were living with long Covid symptoms at the time of the survey — roughly the population of Hamilton and broadly consistent with the earlier estimate,” Hockey said.
“It also suggests more than 400,000 people may have experienced Long Covid at some stage, about the combined population of Wellington and Hamilton.”
“We’re shocked and concerned that so many people have been underserved by New Zealand’s health authorities,” Hockey said.
Long Covid—and related conditions such as ME/CFS—remain poorly recognised and under-supported despite international evidence of its impact. Many affected face reduced employment, housing insecurity, and severe daily limitations, underscoring broader concerns about long-term economic strain and system preparedness.
The government has yet to outline any monitoring or economic analysis plans. On Friday, both the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand told TVNZ’s Breakfast programme they had “no plans for Long Covid monitoring nor for any economic analysis.”
“Now that the scale of the problem is clearer, we want to know why there are still no plans to monitor it,” Hockey said.
“Does the current 2025–26 New Zealand Health Survey include questions on long Covid, for example?”
Catherine Appleby, a nurse practitioner with Long Covid Support Aotearoa, said the findings were deeply concerning.
“Government inaction is letting the problem grow,” she said.
“In particular, the relatively high Māori prevalence of long Covid is unacceptable. This significant inequity is an urgent public health issue that deserves government attention,” Appleby said.
“In the words of Malala Yousafzai: we don’t want sympathy — we want action.”