Maori life expectancy narrowing gap
The gap between Maori and non-Maori life expectancy at birth has narrowed to 7.3 years, based on death rates in 2010-12, Statistics New Zealand said today. Maori life expectancy at birth reached 72.8 years for males and 76.5 years for females in 2010-12. This compares with 80.2 years for non-Maori males and 83.7 years for non-Maori females.
This continues the trend which saw the gap narrow from 9.1 years in 1995-97 to 8.5 years in 2000-02 and to 8.2 years in 2005-07.
"Both Maori and non-Maori life expectancy have increased, but Maori death rates are still higher than non-Maori at nearly all ages," population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said. "About 60 percent of the difference between Maori and non-Maori life expectancy comes from higher death rates at ages 50 to 79 years."
For the total New Zealand population, life expectancy at birth has reached 79.3 years for males and 83.0 years for females, an average of 81.2 years, based on death rates in 2010-12.
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