National diabetes action plan launched
Beehive media release: 25th March 2026
The National Diabetes Roadmap has today been launched to improve care, strengthen prevention, and support better health outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders living with diabetes, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Diabetes is one of the fastest growing long-term health conditions in New Zealand, affecting an estimated 348,000 people and placing increasing pressure on individuals, families, communities, and our health system,” Mr Brown says.
“That growing impact is being felt most acutely through preventable complications, particularly within our Māori, Pacific, and South Asian communities. This roadmap is about changing that by acting earlier, supporting healthier living, and reducing the avoidable harm diabetes causes.”
To drive that change, the roadmap sets out a clear, coordinated direction for the health system over the next five to ten years, with a focus on:
- Strong leadership
- Earlier intervention
- Improved access to care
- A stronger workforce and better use of technology
- Addressing the drivers of diabetes
The need for a coordinated approach was reinforced by a Health New Zealand review completed in November 2025, which highlighted both the scale of diabetes in New Zealand and its growing financial burden. Diabetes-related care cost $2.1 billion last year alone, and without change, is forecast to double by 2040.
“A key part of our plan is updating the diagnostic threshold for type 2 diabetes, allowing more people to be identified earlier. By July, around 34,500 New Zealanders previously classified as having prediabetes will meet the criteria for diabetes, aligning us with international standards and supporting earlier intervention to reduce complications and improve long‑term outcomes.
“Alongside this change, the roadmap includes a range of initiatives to strengthen how care is delivered, including growing and supporting the diabetes workforce, improving access to foot and retinal screening, expanding community-based support, and exploring the use of new technologies to better manage the condition.
“An oversight group chaired by Sir Jim Mann has also been established, bringing together experts in this field to champion the roadmap and drive its implementation.
“This is about system-level change. Diabetes cannot be managed by individual effort alone – it requires coordinated action across the health system and our communities.”
Mr Brown says Kiwis living with diabetes and their families are at the heart of the National Diabetes Roadmap.
“This Government is focused on reducing diabetes-related harm by strengthening prevention, improving access to effective treatment, and ensuring people get the support they need to live healthier lives.
“The National Diabetes Roadmap lays the foundation for a more coordinated, consistent approach to prevention, care, and support – helping ensure New Zealanders living with diabetes can access the right care, at the right time, and achieve better health outcomes.”