Major hacking in New Zealand: Living patients declared 'dead'; name changed to Charlie Kirk; investigation underway

News Topical, Digital Desk : New Zealand's healthcare sector has been hit by a major cyber attack. A platform called Medimap, which maintains real-time records of patients' medication regimens, has been hacked. This platform is used in geriatric care, disability services, hospices, and community health. Hackers made some living patients appear "dead" and changed the names of several patients to that of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in the US in 2025.

The hack was so serious that many aged care homes had to revert to paper medication records.

Medimap confirms hack

Medimap has acknowledged the hack. Company Director Geoffrey Sayer said an investigation revealed that patient demographic information, such as name, date of birth, doctor's name, care location, and resident status, was compromised. The company immediately placed the platform into maintenance mode and enlisted the help of outside cyber experts. Their focus is to continue safe patient care, then to repair and restore the system safely.

How did the hack happen?

According to reports, the hacker stole the login credentials of a legitimate user and, after breaking into the system, altered patient data. The ages of some patients were changed, and others were shown as being shifted to different facilities. This does not appear to be a ransomware attack, but rather an attempt to deliberately create chaos. Some reports suggest that the names of other politicians were also used, suggesting a hacktivist motive.

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