Mortality outcomes and inequities experienced by rural Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand

This research paper by Sue Crengle, Gabrielle Davie, Jesse Whitehead, Brandon de Graaf, Ross Lawrenson and Garry Nixon uses contemporary mortality data to examine Māori and non-Māori mortality rates in rural and urban areas.

This is the first study in a decade to compare Māori mortality rates across the urban rural spectrum and it is the first study to do so using an urban: rural geographic classification developed for use in health policy and research. The GCH defines a rural Māori population that is older than urban Māori but considerably younger than rural non-Māori. Māori are more likely than non-Māori to live in rural areas and considerably more likely to live in more remote places. Māori also experience much greater socioeconomic deprivation.