Celebrating six decades of better breathing
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
NZ (ARFNZ) is New Zealand’s principal authority for all respiratory conditions, representing the interests of the 700,000 New Zealanders living with respiratory disease.
leading cause of death
annual cost to NZ
87,500 3rd
hospital admissions
29,000
children affected
1 in 10
hospital stays attributed $7 billion
700,000
people live with a respiratory disease in NZ
Our vision
To be the trusted and independent leaders in respiratory health knowledge to improve respiratory health outcomes for all
Our mission
Develop and support respiratory health best practice through partnering, research, training and education
That’s New Zealanders
Our goal
To reduce hospitalisations for respiratory conditions
John G. Knight
On behalf of the Trustees, it is my pleasure to report on the activities of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation over the financial year ending 30 June 2024.
This year marks a remarkable milestone—our 60th anniversary. The Foundation was founded by Dr Graham Milne in 1964 and all began with a rather sad story. Graham - a GP in Naenae - was in despair when he could not save the life of a young girl who died from an asthma attack. As a result, he set up a support group for the large number of patients and families affected by asthma in the Hutt Valley. This eventually led to the formation of what we now know as the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ. Graham was awarded an OBE in 1985 for 20 years of service to the Foundation. Now, 60 years on, the Foundation remains committed to his legacy, supporting the 700,000 Kiwis living with asthma and respiratory disease through research, education, and advocacy.
A highlight of the year was the New Zealand Respiratory Conference held in November 2023. This event brought together some of the nation’s foremost experts, practitioners, and policymakers in respiratory health. The keynote speaker was Sir Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand’s former Director-General of Health, who led the country’s health response to COVID-19. His reflection on the pandemic was both insightful and admirable. The two-day conference covered topics from cuttingedge research and clinical practices, to health equity, youth vaping, and community-based approaches to respiratory care, sparking discussions that underscored our mission to improve respiratory health outcomes across New Zealand.
This conference also marked the release of New Zealand’s first quit-vaping guidelines, designed to guide health professionals in supporting young people to quit vaping. These guidelines, developed
and published by the Foundation, are a landmark step towards addressing the youth vaping crisis in Aotearoa and reflect our commitment to support the respiratory health of future generations. On behalf of the Board, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Letitia Harding, the Foundation’s Chief Executive, who was pivotal in launching these guidelines and whose leadership has helped the Foundation continue to grow and adapt. Letitia leads a team of dedicated and hard-working staff, who are pivotal in the growth and success of the Foundation.
This year, we also welcomed a new Medical Director, Professor Bob Hancox. Bob Hancox is a respiratory specialist who combines epidemiological and clinical research to investigate why people develop diseases such as asthma, allergies, and chronic lung disease, then seeks better ways to assess and treat these disorders. He brings a wealth of knowledge to this role and will, undoubtedly drive us forward on our mission. Bob took over from respiratory physician Dr James Fingleton, whose three-year tenure was marked by his invaluable contributions to our guidelines and the flow-on effect to our communities.
The Foundation’s commitment to research and evidence-based advocacy remains steadfast. Our guidelines on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to serve as a cornerstone for best practice in New Zealand, and our Fundamentals eLearning course has seen continued uptake from healthcare providers, ensuring more patients receive high-quality care for asthma and COPD. In fact, a study by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) led by Professor Richard Beasley, shows that New Zealand is leading the world in effective asthma management and treatment. This reflects the hard work the Foundation does in disseminating information that changes asthma management and supports the 1 in 8 Kiwis living with asthma in New Zealand.
Our goal is to reduce hospitalisations for all respiratory conditions and this is proof that our work makes a difference.
We were also delighted to welcome a new member to our Board, Taumata O Te Ra this year. Taumata suffered an asthma attack at age 8 that left him fighting for his life. His experience and understanding strengthen the Board’s shared vision for supporting our growing community.
With no government funding, we rely heavily on the generosity of our supporters. We are grateful for our Friends of the Foundation partners, as well as the continued support from organisations such as Pub Charity, New Zealand Lotteries Grants, and the many individuals and groups who share our vision.
Our visibility in the media and our engagement across digital channels has helped us reach more New Zealanders than ever before. Through our website, social media and e-newsletters, we are able to deliver trusted resources and information to the respiratory community.
The Foundation’s strategic goals are reviewed regularly at our Board’s quarterly meetings, with Letitia providing updates on progress, outcomes and deliverables. I am grateful to our Trustees for their dedication and wide-ranging expertise, which strengthens the Foundation’s work.
Our work is also greatly enriched by the insights of New Zealand’s top health experts on our Scientific Advisory Board, whose guidance is invaluable to our initiatives.
Sir John Clarke, our Chief Cultural Advisor – Māori, continues to offer wisdom and insight, deepening our commitment to Te Ao Māori.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our supporters, stakeholders, and partners. Together, we strive for better respiratory health outcomes for all New Zealanders, and we look forward to continuing this important journey.
Ngā mihi,
John G. Knight President
It is always wonderful to take this time to reflect on all that we have achieved over the past 12 months, and, also, to introduce new faces to the amazing ARFNZ team, which you can find on page 30.
The Foundation’s overarching vision is to be ‘trusted and independent leaders in respiratory health knowledge to improve respiratory health outcomes for all New Zealanders’. There is so much uncertainty in the healthcare arena these days, and people are so time-poor, that a key goal of the Foundation is to make life a little easier for our healthcare professionals by providing reputable resources at their fingertips.
Letitia Harding, ARFNZ Chief Executive
and ensures all the information released by the Foundation is evidence-based medicine (EBM).
I would like to give a big thanks to all those health professionals who volunteer their time, especially now, when they are under such immense pressure from the overburdened health system.
This year, the entire patient content on the Foundation’s website relating to asthma and COPD was extensively reviewed and updated to align with the most recent New Zealand asthma and COPD guidelines, as well as the latest research and recommendations for managing these respiratory conditions. Over 12,000 Asthma and COPD Guidelines were accessed and distributed, and we had over 15,000 visits to our website. More than 22,000 asthma action plans were downloaded or distributed in print to patients to improve selfmanagement, and nearly 100 health professionals completed our Asthma and COPD Fundamentals eLearning course. You can find more about our 2024 resource statistics on page 12.
All of the scientific component of the Foundation’s work is reviewed by our esteemed Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), chaired by a Medical Director (MD). We would like to thank Dr James Fingleton for his leadership in this role over the past three years. You can find photos of Dr Fingleton receiving his recognition award on page 21. This year we also welcomed Professor Bob Hancox to the helm as our new MD, current member of the SAB, and an esteemed respiratory physician. The expertise and leadership that our MD brings to the Foundation’s SAB is crucial,
As CE I work closely with the Foundation’s Board, and we are fortunate to have such a highly skilled and experienced Board from across health and commercial sectors who have an abundance of collective knowledge. Over this past year we welcomed another member to the table, Taumata O Te Ra. Tau is of Ngati Manomano, Ngati Raukawa, Ngapuhi and Ngai Tuhoe descent, and was also a past Respiratory Achievers’ Award winner in 2023 winning the Adult Asthma award. You can read more about Tau on page 29.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Chair, John Knight. His hands-on leadership, tacit knowledge and sage advice is so important to the success of the Foundation. So thank you and the ARFNZ Board for all the mahi you do, and direction you give.
Acknowledging our Board wouldn’t be complete without mention of our Māori Cultural Advisor, Sir John Clarke. His wisdom, knowledge of Māori tikanga and his guidance, is paramount to the steering of this waka, for which we are truly grateful. Sir John and Lady Kathy Clarke give their time so freely to attend and present at events like the Respiratory Achievers’ Awards and the biennial New Zealand Respiratory Conference (NZRC).
The NZRC was a huge success, taking place in November last year with the theme ‘Leading the way for change’. A big thank you goes out to Sir Ashley Bloomfield for opening the conference, which had around 300 attendees. You can find photos of the conference on pages 18 and 19.
Partnering with organisations and groups that really understand their communities is also important to the Foundation. We were once again honoured to have the support of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori to assist us in the mahi of both Sharon Pihema, our Āpiha Takawaenaga Māori (Māori Community Liaison) and Pene Joyce, our recently appointed community liaison. Both of these roles ensure we keep in touch with what is happening around the motu, so we can address respiratory needs as required, rather than just assuming we know what our communities need.
Without you, we would not be able to cover both the North and South islands.
Our vision is...
I am pleased to say that our corporate sponsorship programme, Friends of the Foundation (FoF), goes from strength to strength, enabling us to form valuable and productive partnerships with businesses who, like us, want to improve respiratory health for all New Zealanders. I am pleased to acknowledge all of our FoF partners which you can find on page 17.
Be the trusted and independent leaders in respiratory health knowledge to improve respiratory health outcomes for all.
As you all know, the Foundation receives no government funding, so at this time it is always a pleasure to thank our donor family, our grant providers and the individuals and their families who have generously left bequests to the Foundation. We simply could not do all that we do without you.
As you know, much of our community mahi is centred around educating our tamariki about the harms of vaping, and this year has been no exception. Over 45 schools were visited, and more than 175 workshops were undertaken - a huge increase compared to the previous year. It is hoped that our focused education around youth vaping has had an impact on the high rates of our rangatahi vaping in Aotearoa, and we look forward to the results from the 2024 ARFNZ/ SPANZ.NZAIMS Youth Vaping Survey. You can read all about our youth vaping education initiatives on pages 22 and 23. A big thank you to all our other youth vaping community grant providers as well. These generous organisations can be found on page 32, and I thank them for their continued support of our work.
Finally, I would like to thank our staff, both past and present, because none of this is possible without them. Staff are the lifeblood of any organisation, and I am so proud to work alongside such a dedicated and talented team. The ARFNZ team is one made up of skill, passion, commitment and a clear vision to improve the respiratory health of Aotearoa.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Letitia Harding Chief Executive
We continue to work hard to address the unacceptably high inequities of care and health outcomes for Māori. Māori has the highest mortality rates for total respiratory disease, asthma and COPD out of all ethnic groups in New Zealand. Our aim is to reduce those alarming statistics by making strategic partnerships with Māori health providers and iwi groups and producing resources that meet their needs.
Sharon Pihema is the Foundation’s first Apiha Takawaenga (Māori Community Liaison) and is dedicated to educating our rangatahi about the effects of vaping.
Addressing the respiratory health inequities for Māori is about more than just care - it’s about restoring mana and providing support where it is needed most.
Sharon Pihema
Māori Community Liaison
ARFNZ
Sharon focusses on whakawhanaungatanga with iwi health organisations and schools in the Tairāwhiti region. This year, Sharon focused on positioning the Foundation as a lead agency in respiratory health for Māori communities by:
• Presenting at the Tairāwhiti Regional Smokefree Hui in February
• Becoming a member of a regional leadership group
• Attending local events to speak on youth vaping (Pacific Island Sports Day, World Smokefree Day art exhibition, school mothers’ Hauora Group)
• Conducting media interviews with iwi and Pacific radio
1,802
tamariki have attended a Heremana te Kōpūtōtara (Sailor the Pufferfish, te Reo Māori) show
2,082
copies of asthma resources in te Reo have been downloaded or distrubuted in print
The Foundation saw a 54% increase in the number of downloads and prints of its COPD Action Plans, highlighting that te reo resources are critical in reducing language barriers to health care and in growing health literacy in reo-speaking communities.
768
copies of COPD resources in te Reo have been downloaded or distrubuted in print
Heremana te Kōpūtōtara, the Foundation’s te reo Māori asthma education show, was developed to share important asthma information with tamariki and kaiako on how the lungs work, asthma triggers, how to self-manage asthma and what to do in an asthma emergency.
During the past financial year, 20 shows were performed Rotorua, Taupō and Whakatāne. Since its inception in 2019, Hinerongonui Kingi has educated 7426 tamariki at kura kaupapa across Te Ika-a-Māui (North Island).
The Foundation produces best practice guidelines for the diagnosis, assessment and management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with the aim of improving clinical best practice in New Zealand. The guidelines also contain culturally specific information for the management of these conditions for Māori and Pacific peoples. We continue to promote these guidelines amongst health professionals.
The Foundation continues to share and promote the New Zealand COPD Guidelines 2021, the New Zealand Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines 2020 and the New Zealand Child Asthma Guidelines 2020 to educate those healthcare professionals working in primary care. In doing so, it improves the diagnosis, treatment and management of COPD and asthma in primary care, and reduces the numbers of people being admitted to hospital.
12,278
98 total guidelines distributed (online & in print) copies of guidelines were downloaded enrolments in the Fundamentals eLearning course
10,701
Over the reporting period, the Foundation has seen a 270% increase in the number of guidelines being downloaded from its website.
The Asthma and COPD Fundamentals eLearning course provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive pharmacological and non-pharmacological information for health professionals with an interest in respiratory medicine, to ensure standardised best practice management of asthma and COPD throughout New Zealand.
It addresses the significant health disparity that exists for Māori and Pacific peoples with asthma and COPD in Aotearoa and gives clear guidance for health professionals to provide targeted patient care and equitable access to funded medicines and treatment.
The Foundation is dedicated to patient education, offering a wide range of resources in various formats and languages. These materials are designed to empower individuals with respiratory disease by providing them with helpful information and guidance on managing their condition. Our resources, including printed booklets, brochures, posters, and downloadable materials, are readily accessible to all at no cost.
30,747
total action plans distributed (COPD, asthma & bronchiectasis)
5 languages represented
62 asthma emergency kits distributed
The asthma handbook was released to coincide with World Asthma Day 2024. It contains information and advice for adolescents and adults (12 years and over) with asthma.
The information is based on the NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines and is available in a digital/interactive format for patients and whānau to download.
The COPD handbook was released on World COPD Day 2023. It provides information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), from the various symptoms that patients may experience, to the different types of medication that may be prescribed.
The information in the handbook is based on the NZ COPD Guidelines and is available in a digital/interactive format for patients and whānau to download.
127 Downloads since May 2024
537 Downloads since November 2023
Sailor the Pufferfish – a mascot for asthma education – has visited more than 500 schools and performed for more than 86,000 Kiwi kids since 2015.
Sailor, alongside new performer Aimee Gestro, talk about asthma triggers, how to self-manage asthma, and what to do in an asthma emergency.
In the last financial year, the show was performed to 28 primary schools and early childhood centres (ECEs), educating twice as many children as the year prior. The live show indirectly educates teachers and school staff about asthma.
The Foundation farewelled Chris Lam Sam - the original perfomer and musician of the showthis year. He years of dedicated mahi for the Foundation ensured asthma education in schools was fun, engaging and memorable.
The Foundation also hosts the Sailor Digital Classroom – the brainchild of the COVID-19 lockdown – which was made more widely available in February. It was never intended as a replacement for the live show, but instead as a complement to the work of our entertainers.
In the last financial year, the digital classroom was completed by 21 schools/individuals.
6,121
children attended a live show in the last financial year
81,612
students educated from Sailor the Pufferfish shows since 2015
28
schools and ECEs visitied by Sailor the
The Foundation continues to pursue and create multiple, reliable income streams to support our work. Our Friends of Foundation corporate sponsorship programme is continuing to grow and we actively seek grant funding from various sources.
We also rely on our dedicated donor community and supporters to continue to provide generous contributions that underpin our vital work.
Grant applications
$351,562 recieved in grant funding
$160,000
raised through Friends of the Foundation
$31,239
raised through major fundraising campaigns
The Foundation receives no contracted government funding, so grants from our generous funders are vital to fund the work we do. Each year, we apply for grant funding from a variety of organisations.
This financial year followed the pattern of the previous reporting periods with no government funding beyond the Māori Language Commission, two grants from Pub Charity, an annual grant from the Lotteries National Committee, and some smaller grants towards operational costs.
The Foundation received a total of $351,562 in grants over the last financial year.
Friends of the Foundation is the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s corporate sponsorship programme that forms partnerships with like-minded businesses who want to do their bit to help improve the respiratory health of all New Zealanders.
Over the reporting period, the programme raised $160,000 for the Foundation from 10 partners.
The Friends of the Foundation programme has been successful in raising the profile of the Foundation by connecting with well-established and respected New Zealand businesses, all of whom have an interest in the healthy home environment and how their companies can help raise the awareness of the respiratory health of Kiwis.
The Foundation has 10 sponsors. These include:
Platinum Sponsor: Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
Bronze Sponsors:
The Foundation is at the forefront of respiratory health, setting the pace in research, education and advocacy. Our dedication extends beyond the clinic, as we work to educate both healthcare professionals and the public on the latest advancements and best practices in respiratory medicine. In addition, we are committed to improving the quality of life for those living with a respiratory condition by advocacing on crucial issues, such as vaping, Smokefree New Zealand and healthy homes.
The Foundation’s biennial conference took place in November 2023 at Te Papa, with the theme: Leading the way for change. It attracted 265 delegates both nationally and internationally and was opened by Sir Ashley Bloomfield, who gave a thought-provoking address about his involvement in New Zealand’s COVID-19 response as the-then Director General of Health.
The opening address was followed by a dedicated Te Whare Tapa Whā session, chaired by Sir John Clarke KNZM, CNZM, with presentations from three leaders in Māori health in Aotearoa.
The two-day event featured presentations from 20 of New Zealand’s leading respiratory clinicians, researchers and health experts over a wide range of current topics, sharing the latest innovations, findings and advancements in respiratory medicine
Two major announcements were the release of the COPD Handbook – a helpful guide for those living with COPD, as well as their family and friends – as well as the launch of the New Zealand Quit-Vaping Reference Guide – the first of its kind in Aotearoa – aimed at helping health professionals who work with adolescents and young adults (AYA) to tackle vaping and e-cigarette addiction.
In March 2024, the Foundation echoed calls from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) to ban engineered stone to better protect respiratory health for all workers throughout the country.
The dust from the use of silica-containing artificial stone – which is used to make bench tops for kitchens and bathrooms – can cause permanent damage to the lungs, and silicosis (a long-term lung disease) can develop if inhaled. There are multiple alternatives and, as trusted and independent leaders in the respiratory health sector, we do not want to see workers’ lung health deemed of lower importance than consumers’ aesthetic preferences.
In May, the Foundation renewed its call for a complete ban on all unflued gas heaters in New Zealand. Unflued gas heaters, commonly purchased due to their affordability and convenience, harbour poisonous gases that can cause serious lung problems and - in severe cases - death.
The Foundation also called for further investment into Pharmac’s budget after it decided to stop funding a medicine that prevents serious illness and hospitalisation caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high-risk infants, and cut free influenza vaccinations for some of our most at-risk populations.
The Foundation is also part of the ‘Homes we Deserve’ alliance, spearheaded by the Green Building Council, and is a member of the Wellington Regional Healthy Housing Group (WRHHG).
In July 2023, the Foundation re-affirmed as an organisation member of the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). Our Chief Executive and Education & Development Manager provide valuable information and continued support to GARD.
This year, the new Government decided to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill (also known as Smokefree 2025). It was aimed at reducing access to tobacco products, transitioning to low-nicotine products and creating a Smokefree generation. The Foundation called on the Government to change its stance, as it was viewed as a significant step backwards in respiratory health for Aotearoa.
The Foundation released two press releases on the topic, including one with the Thoracic Society of
Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ).
Our Chief Executive was featured on many major news outlets in NZ and overseas, raising concerns for our community.
In April 2024, the Foundation submitted to the Australian Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 to voice our support for the prescription-only model. The Australian Senate made its decision in late June that it was proceeding with that option.
These awards honour and celebrate the achievements of New Zealanders living with respiratory conditions. It also promotes the message that respiratory conditions, when well-managed, can allow people to live full, active lives.
This year, the event not only celebrated numerous well-deserving Kiwis living with respiratory disease, it also marked the Foundation’s 60th birthday.
The black-tie event, held in May, was a successful evening with positive feedback from all who attended. Josh Brodie, one of the Foundation’s Better Breathing Heroes, was our guest speaker. He shared his story of struggling with asthma as a child to succeeding in sport and fitness in his adult life.
We also introduced a new award on the night –the Youth Anti-Vaping Champion Award.
The rise of youth vaping in New Zealand has become an increasingly important social issue. The Foundation continues to advocate for greater vaping regulations, along with providing vaping harm education to young people, families, and communities. This education is provided through our informational website ‘Don’t Get Sucked In’ and through practical, education workshops developed and delivered by our Āpiha Takawaenga and Community Liaison Youth Vape Educator.
178
240 vaping education worshops delivered to school students
In November 2023, the Foundation launched New Zealand’s first reference guide to support young people to quit vaping. Intended for use by health professionals, the guide provides an evidence-based approach and tools to support young people to quit vaping.
The decision to develop these guidelines stemmed from the lack of support currently available for younger generations looking to tackle vaping and e-cigarette addiction.
3,225
students participated in our workshops media mentions regarding vaping
The guide received national and international media coverage and has been downloaded over 500 times since its release.
DON’T DON’T GET GET SUCKED SUCKED IN IN
The rise of youth vaping in Aotearoa New Zealand continues to be an increasingly important social issue. The Foundation remains steadfast in its advocacy for stronger vaping regulations, while also intensifying its efforts to provide comprehensive vaping harm education to young people, their families (whānau) and communities.
Over the past 12 months, we have made significant strides in expanding our impact with 178 workshops delivered to 31 schools, reaching 3225 students across the motu.
We have recruited an additional youth vaping educator, allowing us to reach more students and schools across New Zealand.
The Foundation continues to be an informed, evidence-based voice on vaping and, as such, is a leading advocate for greater vaping regulation.
We have maintained a strong media presence, raising public awareness about the dangers of youth vaping and the need for tighter laws.
We released 20 media releases on vaping-related issues throughout the financial year and our Chief Executive Letitia Harding and our Āpiha Takawaenga Sharon Pihema appeared in 240 news items on vaping over the reporting period –more than double that of the previous 12 months.
The Foundation continues to advocate for stricter vaping regulations by submitting on Government proposals, directly contacting MPs about our concerns, and liaising with other organisations and individuals with shared views.
The Foundation holds campaigns throughout the year to both raise funds to support our work and to raise awareness of issues facing the New Zealand respiratory community.
The month-long Breathe Better September campaign is the Foundation’s key fundraising event. Utilising the Raisely fundraising platform, the campaign encouraged the community to donate, and be in the draw to win one of 40 Samsung Air Purifiers.
These prizes were provided by key campaign sponsor Mercury Energy - who provided a total of 80 purifiers. The other 40 were gifted to Bromley School in Christchurch, following the significant negative impact the surrounding air quality has had on the health and lives of both students and teachers in the community.
Additionally, we ran a Laps for Lungs campaign led by Better Breathing Hero Nick Ashill, who undertook a huge non-stop 48-hour running challenge around a small university field. More than 180 people financially supported Nick with his efforts, as well as Friends of the Foundation Silver partner Comfortech.
There was significant interest from media, with Nick starting his run live on TVNZ Breakfast. We raised a total of $15,661 over the month.
Every World Asthma Day (held in May each year), the Foundation runs a national campaign to increase asthma awareness and management in New Zealand.
This year, we raised a total of $15,578 through our online fundraising platform, with the majority of that coming from Friends of the Foundation Partner HRV.
We were also donated a Hurricanes VIP Lounge Hospitality Package, which generated 58 bids on Trade Me to sell for $1,100.
The funds raised allowed the Foundation to provide 115 enrolments to our Asthma and COPD Fundamentals e-Learning course for free to health professionals.
Former Wellington Firebirds batsman and Foundation Better Breathing Hero, Josh Brodie, has struggled with asthma since he was young and still remembers waking in the middle of the night, breathless and afraid.
As he has gotten older, the impact that asthma has had on Josh’s life has changed. While he may not be affected as significantly as when he was a child, Josh understands that knowing how to deal with asthma triggers while living an active life isn’t always easy.
That’s why he wanted to provide hope and motivation to the 700,000 other Kiwis, like him, by raising awareness and funds for the Foundation through competing in the Taupō Full Ironman – an event consisting of a 4km swim, a 180km bike ride, and a 42km marathon.
Josh vs Asthma raised $8,242.
Better Breathing Hero, Nick Ashill, took on a huge challenge in May running from Perth to Sydney to raise awareness and funds for respiratory disease. On June 29, Nick arrived at Bondi Beach after completing almost 4000km over 74 days. He averaged about 60km a day – starting at sunrise and finishing at sunset. He did it in honour of his mum who he lost to the rare lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in 2015. IPF affects about 3 million people worldwide. There is no cure. Nick raised $11,251 for the Foundation during his run.
To achieve our strategic goals, particularly around reducing health inequities and ensuring that respiratory health is a priority, the Foundation needs to maintain a strong public profile. We do this through public relations efforts and by sharing valued information and updates through our communications channels.
The Foundation’s main website is our primary communications platform. It provides vital information on respiratory conditions, the latest statistics, news and general interest articles, research papers, and important updates and contacts for our community.
We had almost half a million page views on our main website over the reporting period – an increase of 23%, which shows growing engagement and a clear interest in our resources, information, and initiatives.
This boost demonstrates that our work is reaching and resonating with more people in our community, helping awareness and support for respiratory health on a larger scale.
The Foundation’s websites had a total of 403,803 page views during the reporting period.
17,035
403,803 425 followers on social media media mentions
page views on our main website
The Foundation’s magazine, Better Breathing, is published four times a year. It contains a mix of community news, health advice and tips from respiratory professionals, updates about the Foundation, and features on topical issues. About 4,300 physical copies of the magazine are distributed each quarter. In addition, we received 23,649 digital impressions from the online magazines over the reporting period.
The Foundation featured on all major New Zealand outlets over the reporting period, as it is seen as a credible source of information on respiratory-related topics. Our high media profile continues, with the Foundation regularly approached to speak on issues such as respiratory health inequities, youth vaping and advice around managing asthma and other respiratory conditions. These opportunities allow the Foundation to advocate for our respiratory community and to share important health information with the wider public.
Over the last year, we sent out 44 media releases and achieved 425 mentions across broadcast, print and digital media. Some high-profile coverage including One News (vaping guidelines), Newshub (air quality/Bromley School), Stuff (vaping feature), Newsable Podcast (vaping – OECD figures), Newsroom (air quality), and New Zealand Herald (engineered stone).
Social media channels continue to be a successful way of distributing the Foundation’s content and news and promoting awareness campaigns to the New Zealand respiratory community and general public.
Over the last financial year, all our social channels have continued to see increases in followers and engagement, with the exception of X (formerly Twitter) – a platform the Foundation has decided to cease using. Our total social audience is now just over 17,000 people.
11,631
The Foundation’s team is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees who ensure that the Foundation achieves its strategic goals along with the Chief Executive. The details below are current as of 1 October 2024.
John has held governance roles in respiratory health for many years, at both the regional level (Asthma Hawke’s Bay) and at a national level with the Foundation. John is a strong advocate for respiratory health, having lived with a chronic condition his whole life. This experience drives his desire to improve respiratory outcomes for all New Zealanders. John works in the real estate industry and is an experienced trustee, with a sound understanding and knowledge of governance, leadership, planning and management. He feels privileged to lead the Board and to work with a group of passionate, committed people working hard to make a difference.
Janice’s current role is Managing Director at Nga ā Mataapuna Oranga, a Māori PHO covering the Western Bay of Plenty and parts of the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Janice comes from a professional background within the health industry and has experience both in hospital and community sectors. She sits on a number of health boards in Tauranga as well as Auckland.
Ruth is a retired registered nurse with a particular interest in respiratory health and education. Ruth lectured at the Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing and prior to this worked as a clinical nurse respiratory educator at Dunedin Hospital and in a general practice. Ruth is committed to advocating for people with respiratory conditions to ensure they have access to education and services to help them manage their disease. To assist this process, Ruth believes that primary, secondary and tertiary care providers need to work closely together to effectively use, strengthen and develop services for people.
Cheryl Davies
Cheryl has managed the Tū Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust over the past 29 years. Tū Kotahi was formed as the first Māori Asthma Society in New Zealand in the early 1990s. Cheryl has presented at a number of conferences both nationally and internationally with a focus on discussing Māori and respiratory illnesses and healthy housing. Cheryl has a keen interest in research involving Māori and has been involved with a number of key research projects over the past 20 years.
Philip Aldridge is an experienced Executive Manager and Director. He is currently Chief Executive at Waihanga Ara Rau (the Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council). Philip has worked across both private and government sectors and has held management roles at Infratrain NZ, HASANZ, Telecom New Zealand, The Treasury, and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). He has led mergers/amalgamations, set up private/public partnerships, developed and successfully implemented strategic plans, managed a NZ$2 billion investment portfolio and developed new channels to market. He has a BSC (Hons), an MBA, and has studied at Sloan School of Management (MIT) in Boston.
Paul has owned Larson’s Pharmacy, a large community pharmacy in Green Island, Dunedin for 22 years, and has also previously owned a city-based pharmacy in Dunedin and a rural pharmacy in Ranfurly. Paul has extensive work experience prior to entering community pharmacy and has held roles at the National Poisons Centre in Dunedin, Dunedin Hospital as a Medicines Information Pharmacist, and as a Hospital Pharmacist at Palmerston North and Gisborne. He also owns Henrietta Soaps Limited. Paul has a wide range of governance experience and is currently a board member on Wellsouth PHO, Propharma Southern Advisory Committee and the Dunedin Urgent Pharmacy. He has also previously been on several boards including Consumer NZ, where he was also Chair of their Audit and Risk committee.
Jeannine Stairmand is a member of the Cancer Control and Screening Research Group, working on the C3 Qualitative Study: Cancer care journeys and clinical decision making, of which Associate Professor Louise Signal is the Principal Investigator. Jeannine is a nurse with a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health who has worked in the Māori and public health fields for the past 20 years. Her interest in cancer stems from her work in Māori health, public health and health promotion, particularly breast and cervical screening. Jeannine’s research interests include Māori health, cancer and health promotion and prevention. Jeannine undertakes community service activities and is a ministerial appointment to the National Kaitiaki Group.
Taumata is of Ngati Manomano, Ngati Raukawa, Ngapuhi, and Ngai Tuhoe descent. At the age of 8, he suffered from an almost lethal asthma attack, affecting the way he lived his life greatly. Since this event, he has spent his life learning what it’s like to live with asthma, and how to live his life best to help keep it under control. Leadership and responsibility for health and well-being have been very important to him. This led him to pursue fundraising for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation through running to prove that, even with asthma, it is possible to live a healthy and happy life while keeping it under control. He is honoured to sit on the Board of such a great organisation which aims to help people understand that respiratory conditions don’t have to control your life.
The Foundation’s team is made up of a group of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to help New Zealanders breathe better. The details below are current as of 1 October 2024.
Letitia Harding – Chief Executive
Letitia has over 25 years experience in the health sector, which includes the introduction of new health technologies, improving access to medicines, initiating imaging and diagnostic trials and establishing international healthcare networks. Letitia has sat on a number of international and national advisory boards. She has held senior management positions in both the corporate diagnostic and pharmaceutical industry, and collaborated with many NGOs over the years - which ignited her passion for the not-for-profit sector.
Joanna is responsible for overseeing and managing the development and implementation of key education programmes. She sits on the ARFNZ Scientific Advisory Board and assists in the development and dissemination of the NZ Child Asthma Guidelines, the NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines and the NZ COPD Guidelines. Joanna is a registered pharmacist with an extensive background working in community pharmacy.
Chloe is the head of the Marketing team at the Foundation, working to promote the organisation and increase awareness of respiratory disease through media and across all other channels. Chloe has a background in communications and events management. Prior to this, she was business and general news print jour nalist for Stuff and The Post (formerly The Dominion Post).
Sam is our Marketing and Communications Advisor and works to promote the organisation and its activities across all our channels, as well as leading our inhouse graphic design. Sam has previously worked with charity organisations in the UK and has prior experience coordinating a recruitment team focused on finding high-quality educators for disadvantaged schools across England and Wales.
Pam is responsible for managing the Foundation’s grants fundraising programme enabling the Foundation to continue its vital work in supporting those living with respiratory illnesses. Pam has seven years of grants fundraising experience, a strong knowledge of the New Zealand grant funding landscape, and a network of personal relationships within grant funding organisations.
Jack is our Marketing Co-ordinator, supporting the marketing team to promote the Foundation and wider marketing activities across all channels. His focus is on content creation, web and graphic design, illustration and resource development.
Annie joins us to focus on growing our Friends of the Foundation programme. Annie has previously worked in non-profits in Chicago, IL dedicated to ensuring young people have access to adequate mental healthcare and receive trauma-informed care. Annie’s background is in development, fundraising and grant writing.
Martin is passionate about opportunities that will help the Foundation expand its work and reach through growing the Friends of the Foundation programme. Martin has a background in account management, property management and hotel sales.
Christina has a background in donor care and administration with four years’ experience in the fundraising sector. Christina is a member of the Fundraising Institute of NZ.
Sharon is supporting the goals of the Foundation’s Māori Engagement Strategy by building relationships with whānau, hapu and iwi organisations to identify how best to support their work in respiratory health.
Pene is a vaping educator based in Auckland. She has a background in smoking cessation and population health. She has a great passion for empowering rangatahi and communities to better care for their health and wellbeing.
As an independent charity, the Foundation is reliant on donations, grants, sponsorships and bequests. We are extremely grateful to all those who choose to donate and support our work.
We are very lucky to have a committed group of donors whose long-term backing means that we can continue to make a difference to New Zealanders with respiratory conditions. This generosity ensures that the Foundation can provide critical resources, information, research and advocacy.
To all these donors, a big thank you for your generosity and for believing in the mission of the Foundation. You are making a significant difference in the lives of people with respiratory conditions.
A special thank you to the generous trusts, foundations and individuals who have supported the Foundation throughout the year. Your contributions allow us to continue to do essential work.
Pub Charity Limited
Lotteries Grants Board
Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori (Māori Language Commission)
Maurice Paykel Charitable Trust Foundation North Lion Foundation
Pelorus Trust
Trust Tairāwhiti
Four Winds Foundation
Winton & Margaret Bear Charitable Trust (proudly managed by Perpetual Guardian)
Trust House Foundation
NH Taylor Charitable Trust (proudly managed by Perpetual Guardian)
Hutt Mana Charitable Trust
Grassroots Trust Central
Royston Health Trust Board
Pharazyn Charitable Trust
Henry George Sparks Estate
Joan Neilsen Trust
Jennifer Ann Wu Estate
Mary Brinkworth Estate
Elizabeth Kennedy Estate
Ron Gilbertson Family Trust
Bruce Hope Learmonth Estate
Kaye Forrest-Brown Estate
Ngaio Ellen Bond Estate
Cyril Fredrick Smith Estate
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is New Zealand’s national authority on respiratory disease, and promotes education, research and advocacy aimed at providing better respiratory health for all New Zealanders. The Foundation’s goal is to lessen respiratory hospitalisations and GP visits and to encourage government funding in this area. The Foundation is a charitable trust, headed by Chief Executive Letitia Harding and a small team of staff that operate out of its Wellington office.
Our organisation is governed by a Board which ensures the Foundation is well managed and focused in its activities. The Board also determines organisational policies and assures good financial management.
Our Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of New Zealand’s leading experts in respiratory health service delivery and research. The group brings quality assurance and strong credibility to the Foundation’s work by approving all major projects and publications, including position statements on health issues and research proposals.
Professor Bob Hancox is a professor of Preventive and Social Medicine at the Dunedin School of Medicine at the University of Otago and a respiratory physician at Waikato Hospital. He chairs the Scientific Advisory Board and is the Medical Director of the Foundation.
Sir John Clarke CNZM, KNZM is the Foundation’s Chief Cultural Advisor - Māori, and advises the Foundation on tikanga Māori.
The Foundation is heavily reliant on the support of our generous donors, major sponsors, including Pub Charity and New Zealand Lotteries Grants, other grant funders, sponsors, and bequests.
The financial statements in this report reflect the activities of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ only. Regional partners, being autonomous organisations, publish their own independent financial statements.
Patient care services are carried out by regional partners*. Each partner fulfils its local role according to how it can address its community’s needs.
Services may include:
• One-on-one advice about asthma and respiratory health
• Asthma and COPD support groups
• Spirometry testing (lung function testing)
Asthma Waikato
Asthma and Respiratory Management BOP Inc
Eastern BOP Asthma and COPD support group
Breathe Hawke’s Bay
Tu Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust (Lower Hutt)
Manawatū Breathe Easy Support Group
Horowhenua Breathe Easy Support Group
Marlborough COPD Support and Exercise Group
Respiratory Support Nelson
CanBreathe Canterbury
Asthma Otago
*Our regional partners are autonomous organisations.
Patron
Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
Board
John Knight, President
Janice Kuka
Ruth Gardener
Cheryl Davies
Philip Aldridge
Paul Larson
Jeannine Stairmand
Taumata O Te Ra
Medical Director
Professor Bob Hancox
Chief Cultural Advisor – Māori
Sir John Clarke, KNZM, CNZM
Scientific Advisory Board
Professor Bob Hancox (chair)
Dr James Fingleton
Dr Stuart Jones
Dr David McNamara
Professor Richard Beasley
Professor Lutz Beckert¬
Ms Betty Poot
Mrs Zoe Manderson
Mrs Nicola Corna
Dr Adrien Trenholme
Dr Lucy Telfar-Barnard
Dr Amy Chan
Ms Joanna Turner
Ms Letitia Harding
Registered charity
CC53035
Staff
Chief Executive: Letitia Harding
Deputy Chief Executive and Research and Education Manager: Joanna Turner
Grants and Fundraising Executive: Pam Francombe
PR and Comms Marketing Manager: Chloe Bradwell
Marketing and Communications Advisor: Sam Treseder
Marketing Co-ordinator: Jack Perris
Corporate Sponsorship and Engagement Advisor: Martin Boland
Corporate Sponsorship and Engagement Advisor: Annie Mallett
Māori Community Liaison: Sharon Pihema
Community Liaison – Youth Vape Educator: Pene
Joyce
Office and Donor Appeal Administrator: Christina Goss
A special mention to Amy-Rose Todd who was also part of the Foundation team during this reporting period.
Solicitors
Tuia Group
Accountants
Deloitte
Auditors
Moore Markhams
Contact Details
85 The Terrace, Level 2, Wellington Central, Wellington, 6011 PO Box 1459, Wellington 6140 04 499 4592 asthmafoundation.org.nz
Facebook.com/asthmaandrespiratoryfoundation Instagram.com/asthmaandrespiratoryfoundation Linkedin.com/company/arfnz/