Māori Health Statistics
Written by Mark Dash | Last updated: April 8, 2025
Under a Creative Commons license (sharable with link attribution)
Māori Health Statistics are a topic of constant concern in New Zealand – and while our healthcare system is globally recognized for its efficiency, ranking 41st according to the World Health Organization’s 2020 data, health outcomes remain, unfortunately, very different for Māori compared to non-Māori populations. You can see this demonstrated below:
- Māori Women: 77.1 years (compared to 83.9 years for non-Māori women)
- Māori Men: 73.0 years (compared to 80.3 years for non-Māori men)
While it’s true that life expectancy for Māori is increasing, the large gap between Māori and non-Māori populations remains a really key concern.
While, here at DashTickets, we are a gambling site, we’re passionate about our readers – Kiwis – and so, sometimes, we deviate from our normal type of content to talk about important issues like the one we’re discussing today.
Healthcare System Structure
New Zealand’s healthcare consists of public and private sectors. Public healthcare provides subsidized medical services to citizens, permanent residents, and eligible temporary residents, offering extensive healthcare support.
Public Health Insurance Program
Citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand have access to the public health insurance program, which is funded through taxes. There are no social security contributions deducted from wages for healthcare. Temporary residents from countries with reciprocal agreements (such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, the Netherlands, and the UK) also have access to the public healthcare system and subsidized medical care.
Who qualifies for NZ public healthcare?
- NZ citizens and permanent residents
- Work visa holders authorized for at least two years
- Children under 17 with parents eligible for subsidized care
- Refugees and protected persons
Services covered by NZ public healthcare:
- GP visits
- Prescription medications
- Hospital treatments
- Disability services
- Pregnancy and childbirth care
- Dental care (under 18 years)
Māori Population Growth in New Zealand
In New Zealand, the Māori population has, thankfully, consistently been growing since 2000 – and this has had a pretty significant impact on New Zealand’s demographic makeup as a whole. Take a look at the stats below to see just how much growth there has been:
- 2000: 526k Māori (13.8% of population)
- 2010: 671k Māori (15.3%)
- 2020: 775k Māori (15.5%)
The fact that New Zealand is seeing consistent growth is definitely a good sign – but it needs to be balanced with healthcare and life expectancy rates, something that’s currently not aligned.
Life Expectancy
| Group | Life Expectancy (Years) |
| Māori Women | 77.1 |
| Non-Māori Women | 83.5 |
| Māori Men | 73.4 |
| Non-Māori Men | 80.0 |
Sources: Stats NZ, Ministry of Health NZ
Population Stats
| Year | Total Pop | Māori Pop | Māori Percent |
| 2000 | 3.8 mil | 526k | 13.8% |
| 2010 | 4.4 mil | 671k | 15.3% |
| 2020 | 5 mil | 775k | 15.5% |
So, you can see the Māori whānau is growing, eh! From 2000 to 2020, their numbers have been on the up and up, making up a solid chunk of our Kiwi population.
Sources: Stats NZ
Education
| Year | NCEA Level 1 (Māori) | NCEA Level 2 (Māori) | NCEA Level 3 (Māori) |
| 2000 | 50% | 45% | 30% |
| 2010 | 65% | 55% | 40% |
| 2020 | 75% | 65% | 50% |
Our tamariki (kids) are doing better in school over the years, smashing those NCEA levels! More of our Māori students are finishing school with higher qualifications.
Sources: Ministry of Education NZ
Employment
| Year | Employment Rate (Māori) | Unemployment Rate (Māori) |
| 2000 | 55% | 13% |
| 2010 | 60% | 10% |
| 2020 | 65% | 8% |
On the job front, things are looking up too. More Māori are in work, and the unemployment rate has been dropping like a stone, which is choice as.
Sources: Stats NZ
Health
| Year | Life Expectancy (Māori) | Smoking Rate (Māori) | Obesity Rate (Māori) |
| 2000 | 70 years | 45% | 30% |
| 2010 | 73 years | 38% | 35% |
| 2020 | 75 years | 30% | 40% |
Health-wise, there’s some good news and some areas to work on. Māori life expectancy is going up, and smoking rates are going down, which is mean as. But obesity is still a bit of a worry
Sources: Ministry of Health NZ
Private Health Insurance
About 35% of New Zealanders also purchase private health insurance to cover additional medical expenses not included in the public health insurance plan.
To visit a specialist, a referral from a general practitioner is required. Specialists work in both public and private clinics. You can choose a specific specialist only in a private clinic. The Healthpoint website offers an online service for finding private hospitals and specialists by region and specialization. The cost of medical services varies depending on the chosen clinic and the region of residence. Below are the average costs of some medical services in New Zealand:
- Consultation with a general practitioner (adult) – $40-60.
- Consultation with a paediatrician (children aged 6 to 17) – $20-30.
- Blood pressure measurement – $8-10.
- ECG – $30-40.
- Abscess removal – from $100.
- Hospital stay – $350-1000 (excluding the cost of procedures and medications).
“Smokefree 2025”
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has said that around 4,500 New Zealanders die from tobacco each year, and the country needs a “new approach” to banning smoking. Several public health organizations have endorsed the proposals.
The original plans for a smoke-free generation of New Zealanders underwent a public consultation stage and were first announced in April. The government’s ambitious Smokefree 2025 campaign aims to drastically reduce smoking rates across New Zealand, something that has a big impact on Māori communities.
Smoking contributes significantly to Māori health disparities, with tobacco responsible for one in four cancer deaths nationally. Māori women have the highest smoking rate in the country, with about 30% smoking daily. Cancer is the leading cause of death for Māori women and the second leading cause of death for Māori men.
The Smokefree 2025 strategy is currently in legislative processes, expected to pass easily given political backing.
Learn more: Smokefree 2025 Initiative
