95bFM Findings show increase in cardiovascular hospitalisations following tropical cyclone
12 August, 2025
Interview by Joel Armstrong, adapted by Vihan Dalal
The University of Auckland’s George Laking says that cardiovascular and mental health problems can be a hangover following tropical cyclones, affecting people’s health in the long term, following findings from a new study.
Over six million hospitalisations caused by cardiovascular issues are linked to the aftermath of tropical cyclones, according to a global study.
This comes as a new study shows a link between tropical cyclones and an increase in hospitalisations due to cardiovascular issues. Six countries, including New Zealand, were studied, showing hospitalisation rates increased two months following a tropical cyclone and continued for six months.
Professor George Laking of the Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupu Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland told 95bFM’s The Wire that while conducting a separate study on the east coast of the North Island, he noticed an increase in cardiovascular-related events in the northern South Island following Cyclone Gabrielle.
He blames the mental toll brought on by cyclones for the adverse effects on people’s cardiovascular health.
“The amount of stress and disruption that these put on people all comes out in the realm of health, ultimately.”
Laking says that with the climate crisis making cyclones a frequent occurrence, such events can pressurise the health system too, with an increase in hospitalisations caused by cardiovascular issues.
He raises concerns about Aotearoa’s health sector, which is already struggling with staff shortages, underfunding, and increasing demand.
Laking says cardiovascular problems are not the only impact cyclones can have on a person. Such events can also disrupt mental health.
“The thing is, people think that the weather event is over, but it casts a long shadow in the area of mental health.
“For example, every time it rains for quite a while after a cyclone and flooding, a lot of people find that very stressful. And, you know, there's the term rain anxiety about that.”
Laking suggests governments work to decarbonise societies and urge people to adopt healthier lifestyles, including a plant-based diet, to combat the effects of climate change.
New Zealand’s strategy for climate change includes reducing net emissions to zero by 2050 and reducing the emission of methane from animals by 24 to 47 per cent from 2017 levels, according to the Second Emissions Reduction Plan.
The Government has also reversed a 2018 ban on oil and gas exploration after exiting an international coalition to phase out fossil fuels — a move heavily criticised by environmentalists.
Laking says the interconnectedness of communities heading into a cyclone plays a key role in mitigating the mental and physical impacts of such weather events.
“I think there's a pretty strong expectation that how well you get through these things is a big factor in what happens with health in the longer term.”
