Kidney Disease: A Growing Crisis We Can No Longer Afford to Ignore

Over 550,000 New Zealanders are living with a kidney condition, and shockingly, half of them don’t even know it. Despite the staggering statistic that 1 in 10 Kiwis is affected by kidney disease, the issue remains largely under the radar, with little awareness or public discussion around its devastating impact.

The condition often goes undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages, leaving many without the opportunity for early intervention and treatment. As kidney disease progresses, it can lead to life-threatening complications, including kidney failure, which requires costly and burdensome treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation.

“This is a health issue we can no longer afford to ignore,” says Kath Eastwood, CEO of the Kidney Society. “The rising number of Kiwis living with kidney disease highlights an urgent need for widespread awareness campaigns, early screening, and better access to healthcare. Kidney disease doesn’t discriminate— it affects people across all demographics, and we must act now to stop it from becoming an even bigger crisis.”

The symptoms of kidney disease can be subtle and difficult to detect in the early stages, with many people experiencing no obvious signs until the condition has progressed significantly. Common risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, family history, and being over the age of 50.

“We know there are many missed opportunities for early detection of kidney damage and that early detection is key to managing kidney disease and preventing it from advancing. We can’t afford to wait any longer to address this growing health crisis. Kidney disease is a silent killer, and it’s time we focus on accurate testing, early detection and proper policy recognition of CKD,” says Kath

New Zealand’s future health depends on the action we take now. We must work together as a nation to shine a light on kidney health, empower individuals to seek help, and ensure that no one is left behind in this growing health crisis.