Sapere was commissioned by the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists to investigate the cost of chronic pain to New Zealand. Our report finds that chronic pain costs more than diabetes or dementia yet there is no comprehensive plan to address it.

Our research also finds that one in five New Zealanders suffer from chronic pain and this number is expected to rise to around 1.26 million people by 2048 as the population ages, pushing the cost up to more than $24 billion.