Auckland, Dec 3 NZPA - New Zealanders are visiting the doctor and exercising less this year than in 2008, a survey has found.

The survey by TNS Conversa for Southern Cross Healthcare found just 56 percent of people who were unwell visited their GP this year, down from 64 percent in 2008.

It also found that fewer people went to the gym or participated in sports, and fewer were dieting to lose weight, the New Zealand Herald reported.

But it also found more people had a balanced diet and were consuming less alcohol, and that fewer would go into debt to fund surgery.

TNS Conserva surveyed 1030 people, many of them Southern Cross members, about their use of health services.

NZ Medical Association chairman Dr Peter Foley said primary healthcare funding should make it easier to visit a GP and he was disappointed people were putting off seeing a doctor.

He was not surprised sports and gym activity had dropped due to the cost.

A quarter of those surveyed said they could not afford $5000 elective surgery, and 35 percent said they relied on health insurance to pay for surgery, up from 24 percent.