Local HIV Diagnoses In Decline, Challenges To Achieving Elimination Goal

There were 38 gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) who acquired HIV in Aotearoa New Zealand last year, a decrease from the previous year and continuing the overall downward trend since the peak of 97 in 2016. The 2024 HIV and AIDS notification data was released today by the University of Otago AIDS Epidemiology group.

There were also 28 people diagnosed with AIDS in 2024, with 18 (64%) being MSM. This is the highest number of local AIDS diagnoses since 2010. Over 70% of these people (20) were diagnosed with AIDS within 3 months of their HIV diagnosis—indicating late HIV diagnoses.

Burnett Foundation Interim General Manager, Alex Anderson, says it is worrying that we are still seeing people being diagnosed with AIDS, a sign of a late diagnosis of HIV-infection that developed into AIDS.

“If we are going to achieve our 2030 goal of eliminating local HIV transmission, we need to see everyone at-risk of acquiring HIV in regular systems of testing. If HIV is diagnosed early, it helps stop further transmission and ensures better health outcomes for recently diagnosed people.”

Mr. Anderson says that while numbers are trending down, work is needed to ensure equitable access to testing, prevention and education.

“We are seeing continued decline in local HIV acquisitions, but the new data show it is mostly in European MSM. We are not seeing the same decline in Māori and Pacific people. It is imperative that nobody is left behind in our response,” says Mr. Anderson.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Of the MSM who acquired HIV in New Zealand in 2024, 8 were European while 16 were Māori, 5 were Pacific people, 6 Asian and 3 were of another or unknown ethnicity.

“We are working with community to ensure our messages reaches those who need it most. Our free HIV self-test vending machines around the country are making testing more accessible to all. We are also advocating to make PrEP more accessible from a wider range of nurses, pharmacies and community orgs to increase uptake of this important prevention tool,” says Mr. Anderson.

The government’s National HIV Action Plan received a one-year funding extension in Budget 2025, now running through to the 2028/29 financial year. The Action Plan’s goal is a 90% reduction in locally acquired infections compared to the 2010 baseline by 2030 as well as ensuring that people living with HIV have healthy lives free from stigma and discrimination.

“This is a clear signal that the government continues to see value in the Action Plan, although we'll be watching closely how this additional funding is prioritised and commissioned by Te Whatu Ora Health NZ,” says Mr. Anderson.

A recent study showed that every $1 invested in Burnett Foundation Aotearoa means $5.05 saved for the New Zealand public, in HIV acquisitions prevented.

Mr. Anderson says that the Foundation is also watching the growing HIV outbreak in Fiji, and cuts to global HIV funding, with concern.

“We must ensure our local response remains strong, with a growing number of people being unable to access prevention and treatment overseas, there is a real risk of rising global transmission. We are looking at ways we can support our local Fijian communities as there are strong migrant connections between our two countries. We are aware how an outbreak in Fiji can affect our own response here. We must work together to ensure there is a strong, coordinated regional response.”

Notes:

There were three trans women who acquired HIV in Aotearoa last year. Although data on HIV diagnoses among trans populations has only been collected since 2017, and increasing awareness of gender diversity among healthcare providers is likely improving reporting, it remains crucial that we monitor emerging population groups closely and ensure our prevention tools are both accessible and inclusive.

Living with HIV is a manageable condition for most Kiwis in 2024. People living with HIV who are on effective treatment, with an undetectable viral load, have zero chance of passing on HIV to their sexual partners.

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, along with our sector partners Positive Women Inc., Toitū te Ao and Body Positive Inc., provide a broad range of support services and information for people living with HIV, to support the HIV response in Aotearoa New Zealand. Anyone can visit our websites or contact us to discuss how we can best support them:

• https://www.burnettfoundation.org.nz/

• https://positivewomen.org.nz/

• https://www.toituteao.org/

• https://bodypositive.org.nz/

© Scoop Media