Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ) is New Zealand’s principal authority for all respiratory conditions, representing the interests of the 1 million New Zealanders living with respiratory disease.
The Foundation’s purpose is to lead respiratory health knowledge through research, education, and advocacy, with the goal to reduce respiratory-related hospitalisations, and improve respiratory health outcomes for all.
The Foundation works to achieve this through a combination of activities including; developing clinical best practice, encouraging self-management, improving health literacy, delivering education, and raising the national profile of respiratory disease in New Zealand.
ARFNZ operates with no contract Government funding and is solely reliant on generous grants, sponsorship, and donations.
In 1964, the Hutt Valley Asthmatic Society was formed, leading to the establishment in 1965 of the New Zealand Asthma Society as a national support network for New Zealanders with asthma. In 1980, the Society became the Asthma Foundation of NZ. What had started as a support network gradually changed to a national organisation concerned with education, raising awareness, and encouraging research relating to asthma.
In 2024, the Foundation is celebrating its 60th year.
Now the Asthma Foundation is known as Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ to better reflect the organisation's focus on asthma and other respiratory conditions in New Zealand.
To find out more, download our latest Annual Report 2024.
