Injury in Aotearoa New Zealand
- AIPN
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has released its latest report, Injuries in New Zealand: Insights from 2025, highlighting the scale and impact of injury across New Zealand. The report outlines the significant impact injuries continue to have on individuals, whānau, workplaces and the wider economy, with more than 2 million injury claims supported by ACC each year.
Key findings:
Injuries resulted in more than 20 million days off work and an estimated $8.7 billion in lost economic output in 2025.
Around 50% of injuries occurred in and around the home.
Falls accounted for approximately two-thirds of injuries occurring in bathrooms, and around 50% of claims among people aged 65+ were caused by falls.
In 2025, the ACC spent $4.4 billion on treatment and rehabilitation and $3.1 billion on weekly compensation, supporting more than 160,000 people unable to work due to injury. Overall, injuries affected approximately 1.6 million New Zealanders in 2025.
Key injury settings identified in the report include:
Home injuries accounted for around 50% of all injuries, resulting in 6.4 million days of compensation, costing ACC $934 million and contributing to $2.7 billion in lost productivity.
Workplace injuries resulted in 4.7 million days of compensation, costing ACC $815 million and contributing an estimated $2 billion in lost productivity.
Sport and recreation injuries resulted in 2.5 million days of compensation, costing ACC $389 million and contributing to approximately $1 billion in lost productivity.
Road injuries represented less than 2% of injury claims but accounted for 11% of total Scheme costs. In 2025, road injuries cost $792 million and contributed approximately $830 million in lost productivity. Young drivers aged 16-24 remain disproportionately affected, accounting for 38% of serious injuries and 27% of road fatalities while making up only 14% of license holders.
Key emerging trends in injury claims:
Injury claims are increasing among younger people, driven largely by a rise in sport-related injuries, particularly among those aged 10–19 years.
Claims among people aged 65 and over continue to grow as workforce participation among older adults increases.
Female injury claims are increasing at a faster rate than male injury claims.
New sexual violence claims have increased by more than 30% over the last five years.
Visit the Injuries in New Zealand report to learn more about the impact of injuries in New Zealand.
Comments