A new report examining the state of New Zealand's GP workforce has unveiled the strain many healthcare workers are currently under.

The report, called The Heart of Healthcare: Renewing New Zealand's Primary Care System, describes an ageing, overworked cohort of GPs who struggle to maintain their business under the weight of increasing patients and operating costs.

Former GP and NZ Initiative research fellow Dr Prabani Wood says current funding doesn't cover the necessary costs to deliver the care that patients need.

"Add to that, the working conditions under which GPs currently have to work - which means that a lot of our time is spent doing vital, non-patient-facing work, such as following up referrals."

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