The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand: Reviewing the Past, the Present and Future Challenges

Abstract

During the 1960s, the need for a Heart Foundation in New Zealand became increasingly obvious as coronary heart disease mortality rates continued to rise to very high levels; the National Heart Foundation was established in 1968 (see Box 1). The principal reasons declared for its establishment were to support both cardiovascular research and heart health education. As in other countries, the Heart Foundation has played a key role in cardiovascular health with different strategic priorities at different stages over the subsequent decades. For example, during the 1980s, after a series of reports, a population strategy for cardiovascular disease prevention was strongly endorsed. Now, as we move further into the new millennium, the Foundation will need to continue to adapt to meet new challenges. Box 1THE BEGINNINGS OF THE NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION OF NEW ZEALANDThe American Heart Association was launched during the late 1940s, and The Heart Foundation of Australia in 1958. The New Zealand initiative came from a group of cardiologists; a Wellington group, supported by lay people, prepared a draft constitution approved by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) in 1967 and formally adopted at the first Council meeting held at Wellington Hospital in April 1968. Medical members of the first Council included David Cole, Guy Hallwright, Peter Leslie, Ian Prior, David Hay and John Hunter. The Foundation was incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 with Sir Arthur Porritt, then Governor General of New Zealand, as Patron. The first meeting of the Scientific Committee, chaired by Sir Edward Sayers, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago, was held in September 1969. David (later Sir David) Hay was the first Medical Director and had a long association with the Foundation spanning almost 40 years. The American Heart Association was launched during the late 1940s, and The Heart Foundation of Australia in 1958. The New Zealand initiative came from a group of cardiologists; a Wellington group, supported by lay people, prepared a draft constitution approved by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) in 1967 and formally adopted at the first Council meeting held at Wellington Hospital in April 1968. Medical members of the first Council included David Cole, Guy Hallwright, Peter Leslie, Ian Prior, David Hay and John Hunter. The Foundation was incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 with Sir Arthur Porritt, then Governor General of New Zealand, as Patron. The first meeting of the Scientific Committee, chaired by Sir Edward Sayers, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago, was held in September 1969. David (later Sir David) Hay was the first Medical Director and had a long association with the Foundation spanning almost 40 years.