Populations of New Zealand and Australia at the Millennium

A joint Special Issue of the Journal of Population Research and the New Zealand Population Review

Edited by Gordon A. Carmichael with A. Dharmalingam

Published September 2002
ISBN 0-9578572-1-7

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IMPROVING LIFE EXPECTANCY AND HEALTH STATUS: A COMPARISON OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALAND MAORI
Kate Ross, The Australian National University
John Taylor, The Australian National University

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Abstract
The health status of Indigenous Australians continues to lag behind not only that of other Australians, but also that of comparable minority Indigenous populations worldwide. This paper focuses on comparisons between Indigenous Australians and Maori in an attempt to discern a model of health that may explain the persistent high mortality of the former. Differences in environmental health, access to health care, socio-economic status and social gradients are examined. Although no firm conclusions are possible, given available data, it appears that differences in these factors are not enough to explain the health differential. For further explanation, the role of psychosocial factors and treaty obligations for health care provision are explored.

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