Between 2008 and 2012 the rate of death from all causes for Maori was twice the non-Maori rate.
Maori females have a life expectancy of 76.4 years, seven years lower than non-Maori females. Maori males have a life expectancy of 72.3 years, 7.2 years lower than for non-Maori males.
Maori females were most likely to die from ischaemic heart disease (IHD), lung cancer, stroke, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
In the 10 years to 2011, the incidence of cancer among Maori females was 27 per cent higher than other females. Breast, lung, uterine, colorectal and thyroid cancers were the most commonly registered among Wanganui Maori women.
Their rate of lung cancer was 6.6 times the rate for other women.
Maori males were most likely to die from IHD, accidents, lung cancer, COPD and suicide. The most common cancers for Maori males were lung, prostate, colon, rectum, kidney and stomach.
In 2013, 15,850 Maori lived in the Whanganui District Health Board region. They comprised 25 per cent of the district's total population.
The Wanganui Maori population was youthful, with a median age of 24.6 years, but showing signs of ageing, the profile said. It also showed:
- About 270 hospitalisations per year of Maori children were potentially avoidable through preventative or treatment intervention in primary care.
- Maori were more likely than non-Maori to be admitted to hospital for a mental disorder during 2011-2013. Schizophrenia-related disorders were the most common disorders, followed by substance use disorders.
- In 2013, 40 per cent of Maori adults aged 18 years or over had at least a Level 2 Certificate, a higher proportion than in 2006 (36 per cent) but 20 per cent lower than non-Maori.
- In 2013, 12 per cent of Wanganui Maori adults aged 15 years and over were unemployed, compared to 6 per cent of non-Maori.
- Smoking rates are decreasing, but remain twice as high for Maori as for non-Maori (38 per cent, compared to 19 per cent in 2013).
