Our Health, Our Future - Hauora Pakari, Koiora Roa - The Health of New Zealanders 1999

Our Health, Our Future - Hauora Pakari, Koiora Roa - The Health of New Zealanders 1999
Question and Answer Sheet

Date of publication: December 1998

What is the aim of the report?

The aim of Our Health, Our Future - Hauora Pakari, Koiora Roa. The Health of New Zealanders 1999 is to provide reliable information on the health status of the population, as an input into policy advice. It helps monitor trends and needs and forecasts future health issues. It provides one way to evaluate the success of health policies.

The report is intended to be a resource for a wide range of people, including health planners and policy analysts, health service funders and providers, community groups and anyone with an interest.

The findings of the report have already been used to brief the incoming Minister of Health, Hon Annette King, on the health of New Zealanders. The report will be a key resource in developing the Government's "New Zealand Health Strategy".

What does it cover?

Our Health, Our Future looks at both how long people live and their health related quality of life. It compares the health status of New Zealanders with people in other countries. Within New Zealand it provides age, gender, socio-economic and ethnic comparisons. It does not give geographical breakdowns. A lack of data meant specific statistics on Pacific people and Asian New Zealanders could not be estimated in many cases.

The report covers:

risks of dying at different ages and how they vary between genders, ethnic and socio-economic groups
major causes of death
people's own perception of their health
the level of disability in the population
kinds of illnesses leading to consultation with GPs or to hospital admissions
how many years of life a person can expect to be able to live independently, free of disability needing assistance
the burden of disease
avoidable causes of death and hospitalisation
comparisons of New Zealanders health status with other developed countries
impact of a number of major risk factors (including biological and lifestyle factors).

How often is it produced?

It is intended that a comprehensive report on population health will be produced about every five years. The first report was published in 1994.

A report called Progress on Health Outcome Targets is produced annually. It measures results against specific health targets.

Where is the information from?

Population data were obtained from Statistics New Zealand. The New Zealand Health Information Service provided data on causes of death, cancer registrations and hospitalisations. Data on chronic diseases, disability and risk factors came mostly from four national surveys;

1996-1997 New Zealand Health Survey (Statistics New Zealand)
1997 National Nutrition Survey (University of Otago)
1996 Household Disability Survey (Statistics New Zealand)
1997 Disability Survey of Residential Facilities (Statistics New Zealand)

The report uses 1996-1998 data, the most recent information available at the time. Updated statistics from the New Zealand Health Information Service are posted to its website ( http://www.nzhis.govt.nz ) as they become available.

Who was involved in the report?

Ministry of Health staff prepared the report, assisted by the Health Funding Authority and experts from universities and other organisations. The report was peer reviewed by experts both within New Zealand and internationally.

For further information please contact:
Annie Coughlan
Media Advisor