The Health of Māori Adults and Children, 2011–2013

This four-page report presents key findings on the health and wellbeing of Māori adults and children (2011–2013) and shows trends since 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS). Pooling data from the 2011/12 and 2012/13 NZHS improves the precision of estimates for Māori due to bigger sample sizes.

Key findings

Health behaviours and risk factors

• One in five Māori children and two in five Māori adults were obese
• Māori adults had similar levels to non-Māori adults for being physically active (53%)
• Two in five Māori adults smoked

Health conditions

• Almost all (97%) Māori children were in good health, according to their parents
• One in five Māori children and 16% of Māori adults took medication for asthma
• The rate of diagnosed common mental disorder for Māori adults had increased since 2006/07

Access to health care

• Two in five Māori adults and 27% of Māori children had an unmet need for primary health care in the past 12 months
• Māori children were just as likely as non-Māori children to have visited a dental care worker in the past 12 months

For full results from the latest NZHS see the New Zealand Health Survey: Annual update of key findings 2012/13 and Regional results from the 2011-2013 New Zealand Health Survey.