Photo: AFPAlzheimers New Zealand warns the country is "dangerously unprepared", as the number of people living with dementia is projected to more than double by 2050. About 83,000 people live with dementia, which is estimated to increase to about 170,000 in the next 25 years. The warning co-incided with the release of the World Alzheimer Report 2025, which said investment in community-based "rehabilitative services" was needed to help people living with dementia maintain independence. "Dementia is a national health emergency and New Zealand still has no funded, implemented plan to deal with it. Point 5.1.11: Manage the growing prevalence of dementia by implementing and evaluating the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan.