The Silent Epidemic: New Data Reveals Nearly 200,000 Kiwis Still Battling Long Covid

The 2026 NZ Health Survey reveals 9.2% of adults suffer from Long Covid. Experts call for a coordinated government plan to address this growing health burden.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 6:02 AM EDT

Source: RNZ

Demographic Disparities in Recovery

The data, which was only released following a request under the Official Information Act, reveals significant inequities in how Long Covid impacts different communities:

Gender: Women are nearly twice as likely to report symptoms (14.9%) compared to men (8.5%).

Ethnicity: One in six Māori adults (15.5%) reported Long Covid symptoms, significantly higher than the non-Māori average of 11.3%.

Disability: Those living with disabilities are among the hardest hit, with nearly one in four (22.8%) experiencing lasting health impacts.

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