13 July 2026
The first nationally linked picture of neurodevelopmental conditions in Aotearoa shows that early identification is deeply shaped by ethnicity, deprivation, and where a child lives.
The New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service (NZCYES), based at the University of Otago, has released Kanorau ā-roro: Neurodevelopmental conditions in children and young people in Aotearoa, meaning 'the many faces of the mind' in te reo Māori. The report was commissioned by Te Kāhui Mātai Arotamariki o Aotearoa | The Paediatric Society of New Zealand (Arotamariki) and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
Drawing on linked national data through Stats NZ's Integrated Data Infrastructure, hospital records, disability support, pharmaceutical dispensing, and specialist mental health records, it's the first report of its kind to give a comprehensive national picture of who is being identified with a neurodevelopmental condition, where, and at what age, across ADHD, Autism, intellectual disability, FASD, communication and learning disorders, and motor disorders.
Among its findings: service-identified rates for ADHD and Autism sit well below international estimates, pointing to a significant under-count; Māori and Pacific tamariki show a reverse deprivation gradient for ADHD identification; and age at diagnosis varies by up to three years between districts.
"This report is a landmark first step in identifying prevalence within the health system, but we know these figures are just the tip of the iceberg." — Dr Sonja Crone, President, Arotamariki
Read the full media release below for the complete key findings 👇