How will health morbidities and the government’s response affect sport and recreation? 

What are we seeing?  

• Significant disparities in life expectancy and preventable risk factors like obesity, especially among Māori, Pacific and socioeconomically deprived populations. Mental health challenges affect over half the population. 
• Where people live greatly impacts health outcomes, with low-income urban areas facing higher chronic disease burdens. Healthcare is under pressure with workforce shortages and long waiting lists. 
• Government allocating $16 billion over four years to address health pressures. Emerging precision medicine technologies offer hope for more personalised care as population ages and chronic diseases rise. 

What can we expect?  

• Health disparities will continue to grow based on lifestyle and consumption habits, with a focus on social determinants like the built environment, socioeconomic factors, and access to services. 
• Mental health conditions will become a significant policy driver, and individuals will take a more active role in their healthcare decisions. There will be a growing emphasis on 'light touch' interventions and personalised care. 
• Health indicators and outcomes will be better measured and analysed, and individuals will increasingly track their own health data. Privatisation of healthcare services and health tourism are also expected to grow. 

What might this mean for sport and recreation?  

• Increased focus on preventive health measures will drive greater participation in sport and recreation to maintain health, with activities known for mental health benefits like mindfulness becoming more popular.  
• Blended health and recreation programmes will be developed with healthcare providers, with a focus on activities tailored for older adults as the population ages.  
• Sport and recreation organisations will need to gear their offerings more toward both physical and mental health. 

What questions should we be asking ourselves today?  

• How can we leverage technology and partnerships to create more personalised health and fitness experiences for participants? 
• How can we expand our offerings to better accommodate mental health benefits and market these to attract participants seeking these benefits? 
• How can we design activities tailored to the needs of the ageing population and advocate for sufficient public investment in recreational infrastructure that promotes physical activity in our communities?