| Summary: | Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), principally cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are the leading causes of death in men and women in New Zealand: 89% of all deaths each year are caused by NCDs.1 In 2012, an estimated 7,000 New Zealanders between the ages of 30 and 70 died prematurely from these conditions.2 NCDs are also the leading causes of preventable ethnic and socioeconomic health inequalities in New Zealand.2 However, a large proportion of the burden of death and disability caused by NCDs is potentially avoidable though cost-effective, evidence-based preventive and treatment interventions. Some of these interventions, such as tobacco control, are also cost saving.3In this paper, we propose a practical set of priority national targets in keeping with the globally agreed set of targets. We argue for a national commitment to inclusive, collaborative and pragmatic action to capitalise on opportunities for further progress.
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