Tēnā koutou,

On NZ’s Heart Foundation website, the following statistics are provided regarding Cardiovascular Disease & Heart Disease:
1) It is the leading cause of death in New Zealand and includes heart, stroke and blood vessel disease.

2) 170,000 people are living with heart disease in New Zealand.

I would like to request the following information to the questions below to understand in more detail the current state of Heart Disease in NZ and what we are currently doing to reduce our biggest killer. Specifically, we now have data providing evidence for the prevention and reversal of coronary heart disease & coronary artery disease through whole-food plant based nutrition and lifestyle changes, as observed in the studies below. Addressing the cause directly through a low-cost preventative means could reduce the financial impact Heart Disease currently has in NZ. The New Zealand public deserve to be informed in the best way possible, with the most scrutinized and up to date data we have available, leading to the best health outcomes for everyone.

Ornish D, Scherwitz LW, Billings JH, Brown SE, Gould KL, Merritt TA, Sparler S, Armstrong WT, Ports TA, Kirkeeide RL, Hogeboom C, Brand RJ. Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. JAMA. 1998 Dec 16;280(23):2001-7. doi: 10.1001/jama.280.23.2001. Erratum in: JAMA 1999 Apr 21;281(15):1380. PMID: 9863851.

Esselstyn CB Jr, Gendy G, Doyle J, Golubic M, Roizen MF. A way to reverse CAD? J Fam Pract. 2014 Jul;63(7):356-364b. PMID: 25198208.

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Please release the following information:

What are the yearly total number of deaths from Heart disease in New Zealand from 2000 – 2020?

What are the yearly total number of deaths by ethnicity from Heart disease in New Zealand from 2000 – 2020?

What is the yearly total cost-of-illness for Heart Disease in New Zealand between 2000 - 2020?

How much money has been invested into preventing Heart Disease in New Zealand between 2000 - 2020?

What are the yearly total percentages of Statin use in the adult population of New Zealand between 2000 – 2020?

What are the total yearly costs of Statin use in New Zealand between 2000 - 2020?

How many NZ Health Advertising educational campaigns have been conducted from 2000 – 2020 around the topic of Reversing and Preventing Heart Disease?

What goals or targets have the MOH set in place for reducing the number of deaths from Heart Disease?

What is the total funding allocated toward researching prevention and reversal of Heart Disease in New Zealand between 2000 - 2020?

Can you please give evidence the MOH have provided the New Zealand public access to studies relating to the Reversal of Heart Disease through Wholefood Plant-based nutrition?

What is the current dietary advice provided by MOH for health education in Primary School, Intermediate School and High School levels?

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Please also explain any relevant caveats that should be kept in mind when analyzing this information.
Please provide this information in an accessible, searchable format.
If any part of my request is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.
If any of the information that I have requested is unavailable or would be difficult to retrieve, but similar information might be readily available, I would be happy to discuss altering or refining my request.
As a New Zealand citizen, I am eligible to make requests under the OIA.

Ngā mihi,

Michael