New statistics show increase in Maori life expectancy.

MAORI LIFE expectancy has significantly improved for the first time in two decades, according to statistics released last month.

The Statistics NZ figures showed life expectancy for Maori men has increased from 66.6 years based on 1995-97 statistics to 69 years based on 2000-2002 figures. Maori women's life expectancy has increased to 73.2 compared to 71.3, based on the same figures. Overall New Zealand figures showed a life expectancy of 76 for men and 81 for women.

Although the Maori life expectancy increase was small, Wellington Medical School public health specialist Tony Blakely said it was the first real improvement in 20 years. "The figures are evidence that health policies aimed at Maori are working," he said. "Now is not the time for pulling apart social and health policy that is helping to reduce inequalities in health."

Public Health Association director Gay Keating said the figures vindicated Maori health services, which have come under fire in the race debate because of a lack of evidence that they result in health benefits.

In an article called "Moving on up" in the New Zealand Listener (March 20-26), Keating is quoted as saying that had Maori health services not been implemented, New Zealand's health problems would be worse. In the same article, Massey University's assistant vice-chancellor Maori, Mason Durie, says although progress in improving Maori health status is slow, evidence shows some real progress, eg improved Maori vaccination rates and a fall in sudden infant death syndrome. However, more time was needed--perhaps another 30 years--to see whether those children lived longer than previous generations.