As part of the ONZ Celebration Event at Parliament, ONZ also unveiled its Briefing on Bone Health in New Zealand.  The Executive Summary of the Document is as follows:

New Zealand faces an urgent challenge in addressing the growing burden of osteoporosis and associated fragility fractures, which are increasingly common as the population ages. Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more prone to fractures, often from minor incidents such as a fall from standing height. These injuries – especially hip fractures – result in significant pain, disability, and loss of independence for individuals, while placing a substantial strain on families, whānau, the healthcare system, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), and the economy.

Currently, fragility fractures account for more than 191,000 hospital bed days annually, equivalent to the capacity of one of the country’s largest hospitals. In 2023, falls and fractures among older people cost ACC $360 million, a figure projected to double to over $720 million by 2035 without effective interventions. These statistics underscore the critical need for action to prevent fragility fractures and improve bone health across all stages of life.

In 2025, Osteoporosis New Zealand will publish Stronger Together: A Collaborative Strategy for Bone Health in New Zealand, a comprehensive national strategy to optimise bone health throughout the life course. This strategy includes the following primary goals:

1. Sustaining excellence in care: Ensure ongoing support for New Zealand’s world-class clinical teams that deliver care for people who sustain fragility fractures.
2. Preventing first fractures: Develop a national programme that is both clinically effective and cost effective, aimed at reducing the risk of first fragility fractures in older adults.
3. Promoting lifelong bone health: Educate New Zealanders of all ages on the importance of building and maintaining strong bones, from achieving peak bone mass during youth to preserving bone health throughout adulthood and later life.

New Zealand is leading the way in world-class care for people who sustain fragility fractures through two key models of care. Orthogeriatric Services that integrate geriatric and orthopaedic expertise to improve outcomes for hip fracture patients, with all hospitals actively participating in the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry (ANZHFR). Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) that are specialised teams focused on preventing secondary fractures by ensuring comprehensive assessments and evidence-based treatments for fragility fracture patients. Participation in the Australian and New Zealand Fragility Fracture Registry (ANZFFR), which features tools such as the “Refracture Tracker”, enables New Zealand’s FLS to set benchmarks against global standards.

Achieving these goals requires a unified, cross-sector approach. Policy support must extend beyond healthcare to include education and other ministries, ensuring New Zealanders have access to age-friendly environments and public awareness campaigns. Establishing an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bone Health would provide sustained momentum for the national Live Stronger for Longer programme and ensure ongoing investment in bone health initiatives.

By addressing osteoporosis and fragility fractures with urgency and coordination, we have the opportunity to optimise the bone health of all New Zealanders and reduce health system demand.

To read the full Briefing please visit About Us – Plans and Reports Section.