Big Heart Appeal returns to fund life-saving heart research for New Zealanders

Published: 28 January 2026

This February, the Big Heart Appeal returns with inspiring stories from New Zealanders and an urgent call to fund life-saving heart research.

Taking place during Heart Health Month, the Big Heart Appeal is the Heart Foundation’s biggest annual fundraising event.

The Heart Foundation is asking New Zealanders to donate during the street collection on Friday 27 February and Saturday 28 February, or online, to help fight New Zealand’s single biggest killer: heart disease.

“One Kiwi dies from heart disease every 90 minutes,” says Heart Foundation Medical Director, Dr Gerry Devlin. “It’s the single biggest killer in New Zealand and globally.”

Dr Devlin says heart attacks are also on the increase and today, every 45 minutes, a New Zealander is admitted to hospital with a heart attack.

Funds raised through the Big Heart Appeal help make a big difference, supporting research that leads to improved treatments for heart disease and investing in overseas training for young cardiologists so they can bring home the skills to benefit New Zealanders.

Thanks to generous donations, the Heart Foundation has helped drive major advances in treating heart disease.

“Outcomes for people affected by heart attacks, cardiac arrest and other heart conditions have greatly improved thanks to the generosity of kind-hearted New Zealanders and their support of our work, but there is still much to be done,” he says. 

Adrian from Wellington knows all too well the impact of heart disease.

He experienced a heart attack five years ago. It started off as some mild anxiety and a strained pain in his forearm and noticed he was moving slower than usual.

Adrian went to bed early but couldn’t shake a sense of looming dread. “As I was trying to fall asleep, the thought of not waking up began to cross my mind,” he says.

Trusting his instincts, he went to hospital where doctors confirmed he’d had a heart attack and urgently inserted two stents.

“I was in shock. It was completely out of the blue as I’ve always been fit and healthy. It just never crossed my mind that it would impact me."

Adrian says his experience inspired him to support the Big Heart Appeal.

“I could really see the benefits that heart research can have for people like me. I’ve been able to manage my heart condition through medication alone – and that’s only been made possible because of heart research."

“You hear all these stories of unexpected heart attacks happening to marathon runners, just completely out of the blue. It’s not always something obvious and it catches many people by surprise.”

Every donation brings us closer to saving lives.

Please give to the Big Heart Appeal street collectors on Friday 27 February and Saturday 28 February or donate online anytime at  heartfoundation.org.nz/donation