New report puts spotlight on Asian health in Aotearoa

A landmark report presented to Parliament on Tues this week has highlighted a number of urgent health concerns among Asian communities in Aotearoa NZ.

The report ‘Asian Health in Aotearoa 2024’ was commissioned by The Asian Network Incorporated, (TANI). It draws on 20 years of nationally representative data from the New Zealand Health Survey on the wellbeing of three ethnic communities - Indian, Chinese, and other Asians.

This is the first analysis of New Zealand Health Survey data for the Asian community in almost two decades.

The report flagged some worrying trends including higher obesity rates, inadequate nutrition, lower levels of physical activity, poor access to primary health care and higher rates of ethnic discrimination.

The report’s lead author Zhenqiang Wu from the University of Auckland said some of these findings surprised him.

One surprising finding was that the prevalence of obesity in adults across all three Asian groups had doubled, from 26 per cent in 2002-03 to 53 per cent in 2019-21 surveys.

“Usually, because of ‘the healthy migrant effect’, you would consider them to be a reasonably healthy group. But, when you have a look at obesity, it's much higher than for the ‘European and Other’ groups,” explained Wu.

Encouraging findings include low proportion of smoking and comparatively low proportion of harmful alcohol use among Asian populations.

These findings were important, said Wu, because Asians are the fastest growing ethnicity in New Zealand. 

(pic right panellists at the launch of the report: Fr left, Zhenqiang Wu, , Rachel Simon-Kumar, Suneela Mehta, Andrew Old, Danny Wu)

In the 2002-03 survey, Asians made up six per cent of the adult population while, in the 2023 Census, Asian people were estimated at 17 per cent of the New Zealand population. It is predicted that Asian people will make up 26 percent of the population in 2043.

As this group continues to grow, so will its health needs, said Wu. Therefore, more research is needed that provides more nuanced insights into various Asian communities.

“In most research, Asians are treated as one single, homogeneous group, but ‘Asians’ can be from many countries and are very diverse in culture, religions and many other factors,” Wu said.

“That diversity usually leads to different health needs and health status. So, we really need some more research to respond to the needs of those diverse groups over time.”

Vishal Rishi, director of The Asian Network Incorporated said the report was the most comprehensive yet.

“It sheds lights on a number of critical issues that require attention to improve Asian health outcomes … We are very concerned about the increase in discrimination and ethnically motivated attacks, poor access to primary health care, and poorer outcomes around physical activity and nutrition.

“Our communities have so much to offer Aotearoa, but we are still experiencing significant inequities in health outcomes."

HPF’s Deputy Executive Director Leanne Eruera (pictured with Vishal Rishi at the launch) said it was a privilege and  honour to represent HPF at the event.

“We look forward to reviewing the results of this eye-opening and comprehensive report and look forward to supporting TANI, and other community health providers in their efforts to improve health outcomes for the Asian community in Aotearoa.”

The report was authored by Zhenqiang Wu, Sally F Wong and Robert Scragg of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, 

View the report HERE.