ACC has released a new annual document called “Injuries in New Zealand”. The aim is to raise the collective awareness of the risk of injury.

In 2024, more than 136,000 people from Bay of Plenty made an ACC injury claim and the cost to help these people recover was more than $416 million.

It was the highest number of injuries and the highest cost for injuries in the Bay of Plenty region for the past five years, and those numbers reflect a nationwide trend.

To put those numbers into context, in 2020 ACC accepted 128,928 injury claims from the Bay of Plenty region at a cost of $243m.

“To put it simply, more people are getting injured, and it is taking longer and costing more for them to recover,” said ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker.

The new data is being released by the government agency as it looks to raise the collective awareness of the need to prevent injuries.

ACC has created a new document called “Injuries in New Zealand, Insights from 2024: How we are getting hurt and how you can make a difference”.

In 2024, ACC accepted two million injury claims from 1.6 million New Zealanders, and it cost nearly $7 billion to help people recover from these injuries and to maintain some form of income (weekly compensation). A total of $4.4b of these costs went towards rehabilitation expenses.

The report shows that in the past 20 years, the costs of supporting New Zealanders with injuries have climbed from just under $1b to nearly $4.4b.

ACC is focused on actively supporting clients who are injured, to support better outcomes for them and the scheme.

Last year, ACC provided financial support to 162,571 people who couldn’t work because of injury, paying out over 18 million days of weekly compensation. The total cost of weekly compensation in 2024 was $2.5b.

Although these injuries only represent 6% of all injuries, they account for around 60% of the cost.

ACC Minister Scott Simpson said Injuries in New Zealand will be released annually to help raise the collective awareness and promote injury prevention.

“ACC is a unique and world-leading scheme and one that we cannot afford to take for granted,” said Simpson.

“Injuries cause harm to the person injured, but they also put pressure on business productivity and on the financial position of the ACC scheme.

“We need to safeguard ACC, so it is there to help and support our future generations. One of the key areas we need to improve is reducing injuries.”

Whether it’s at home and in our communities, at work, in sport and recreation or on our roads, the number of people getting injured are too high, especially considering most injuries are preventable.

Independent research indicates that more New Zealanders are now taking actions to prevent injuries to themselves and other people.

Given that injuries lead to at least 18 million days off work each year, New Zealand won’t be able to reach its potential until many more New Zealanders become mindful of injury related risks.

By being present in the moments when there is injury risk, we can get the job done and continue to do the things we love. This is far better than experiencing pain, creating flow on effects for friends and family, and facing a long rehabilitation.

Whitaker said the high number of injury claims and costs put pressure on the sustainability of the ACC Scheme.

“We want all New Zealanders to get the help and support they need when they’re injured now and for many generations to come,” he says.

ACC partners across the various areas of injury prevention to keep New Zealanders safe, whether they’re at home, at play or at work.

“What we all need to do is be more mindful and present when there is injury risk present, if I get hurt, what is the impact on those people who I care about.”

Bay of Plenty - ACC injuries by the numbers in 2024

Injury location New claims Active claims Active claims cost

Total injuries 136,195 161,329 $416 million

Home / community 91,687 104,968 $239 million

Sport / recreation 31,443 36,720 $65 million

Work 10,676 16,486 $72 million

Road 2389 3,155 $40 million