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Staying well with heart failure

My Heart Check

Call the Heart Line

Our purpose: to stop all people in New Zealand dying prematurely from heart disease and enable people with heart disease to live full lives

195,000
people in New Zealand are currently living with heart disease

That's more than one in 23 adults [1]

30%
Almost 30% of deaths in NZ are caused by cardiovascular disease

It is the leading cause of death in New Zealand and includes heart, stroke and blood vessel disease [2]

90 mins
Every 90 minutes a New Zealander dies from heart disease

Many of these deaths are premature and preventable [2]

$99m
The Heart Foundation has invested into research since 1968

I have a heart condition

I want a healthy lifestyle

I am a health professional

I am an educator

I am a food preparer

I am a researcher

News & Stories
7 April 2026 in Blogs

Can a pet improve heart health?

There's something quietly powerful about coming home to a wagging tail or a purring cat after a long day. For many of us, a pet is simply whānau. But research shows that the bond we share with our animals may go beyond the warm fuzzies – it could also help our hearts too.

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26 March 2026 in Stories

‘Second chance at life’: How brothers saved Henry from sudden cardiac arrest

When Maketu coastguard volunteer Henry Samson flew to the UK for his father’s 90th birthday in 2024, he never imagined his brothers, and two strangers, would end up saving his life.

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23 March 2026 in Stories

How dog and wife saved husband from unexpected cardiac arrest

When well-known New Zealand artist Greg Straight woke up on one morning in June, the 52-year-old had no idea his life was about to hang by a thread.

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