THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AOTEAROA

Author: K McKee (MPH, BHSc)

A FOCUS ON MĀORI WELLBEING

Climate change is not a distant or abstract threat but a present reality that is reshaping the lives and health of people around the world. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, the impacts of climate change are felt acutely, with rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing frequency of extreme weather events. These changes pose significant risks to public health, affecting food security, air and water quality, and the spread of diseases. For Māori, the impacts are even more profound, intertwined with historical injustices and a deep connection to the land and environment.