What is Kiwi Health Heroes about?
This inspirational book highlights dozens of kiwis (individuals) or NZ organisations that have made significant changes to NZ Health systems.
These kiwis aren’t all children who grew up in wealthy environments, knowing what they wanted to do in life. In fact many of them, travelled or did other jobs before becoming involved in health.
These Kiwi Health Heroes are made up of all walks of life, involving all types of skills. Inventors, scientists, mechanical know-how and on-the-job realisations that things could be better have changed many different facets of NZ medical systems and procedures.
New Zealanders are well known around the world for inventing and discovering things, but did you a kiwi invented disposable syringes, and were the first to have a District Nursing Service (care outside hospitals), and a helicopter rescue service?
Learn about many, many more amazing developments and groundbreaking discoveries by people you may not have read about before in Kiwi Health Heroes.
Writing Style / Structure
This NZ Non-Fiction book has four sections to choose from.
Health History
Seven stories about amazing discoveries or developments in NZ History. including the origins of NZ District Nursing & The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
Health Innovation
This section highlights incredible inventions and their beginnings along with medical detectives and the dedication health professionals and individuals went to, to make things better for patients worldwide.
Health Care
This part of the book includes Health Care through Covid 19, Food Health and understanding, and special health care for Māori and children.
Health Triumphs
Seven inspirational stories of kiwi’s who learnt about, dealt with, and overcame personal health conditions to go on to achieve Olympic Medals, Rugby League cups, Paralympic Gold, and modelling contracts. One of these amazing kiwi’s raised Diabetes awareness and changed the NZ government’s funding after being the youngest person ever to speak in Parliament (The Beehive).
Throughout the book are boxes of interesting information, questions directly to young readers, along with life lessons about kindness, determination, empathy and the understanding that you may have many careers in life if you choose to. What you choose in school doesn’t have to be your only path.
Each section has different coloured backgrounds and Pick-a-Path options to carry readers through a particular interest, whether it be brave caregivers, exploring inventors lives and ideas, or those who fought personal battles and overcame them. Or readers can read Kiwi Health Heroes from cover to cover.
FAQs
What age is it for?
8-12 years
What genre is Kiwi Health Heroes?
New Zealand Non-Fiction
Is it part of a series?
No
Who will enjoy Kiwi Health Heroes?
Anyone thinking of entering the health profession, wanting to make life better for others, or learning about famous New Zealanders will love this book.
Kiwi Health Heroes will be a great platform to launch from to discover a little known kiwi hero, and then expand research for school projects or personal interest.
Authors
Caitlin Timmer-Arends & Rebecca Waddell
Illustrator
So-Young Cho
Publisher
Bateman Books (NZ)
(2026, Bateman Books, Non-Fiction, Real Life, Aotearoa New Zealand, Health, Nurses, Nursing, Doctors, Pharmacists, Inventors, Health Workers, Inspirational, Life Lessons, Questions, Pick a Path, Heroes, Hero, Inventions)