Findings from State of a Thriving Nation 2025

The State of a Thriving Nation 2025 paints a stark picture of New Zealand's lagging performance in health and safety, revealing that the cost to the nation from poor workplace practices has swelled to $5.4 billion in 2024. This massive expenditure accounts for 1.3% of the country’s GDP.

The data comes from the State of a Thriving Nation 2025 report, the third annual analysis released by the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum. Produced by economist Shamubeel Eaqub, the comprehensive study tracks the economic and human toll of workplace injuries, fatalities, and long-term illness. 

The current $5.4 billion figure represents an increase from $5.2 billion the year prior, and a significant jump of nearly $1 billion in real terms over the past decade, underscoring the escalating financial burden on the country.

The report offers a small silver lining: the overall number of workplace injuries is trending down. This progress, however, is quickly overshadowed by a critical counter-trend: the time taken off work per injury has almost doubled over the past decade. This suggests that fewer accidents are happening, but the ones that do occur are far more serious, leading to longer, more complex, and ultimately more costly recovery periods for workers. 

The Forum’s findings suggest New Zealand’s standards remain woefully behind its international counterparts. The nation’s current workplace death rate is comparable to where Australia was 16 years ago and where the United Kingdom stood 40 years ago. 

Crucially, this year’s report establishes a powerful new link between national safety performance and economic output. The data shows that investing in worker wellbeing is directly tied to a nation's ability to thrive. Of the 25 OECD countries that boast higher productivity rates than New Zealand, a significant 80% also report a lower workplace fatality rate. This correlation reinforces the argument that prioritizing safety is not merely a compliance cost, but a fundamental prerequisite for boosting national productivity.

The Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum concludes its analysis by outlining four key lessons derived from its research. These lessons are intended to provide businesses with actionable strategies to improve health, safety, and productivity, urging them to implement changes not just within their own companies but across their industries and supply chains to create a safer, more competitive New Zealand.

This short and snappy read is part of our News Bites© series, made for busy safety pros who like their insights one bite at a time.