Issues in monitoring Māori health and ethnic disparities: an update

Summary of publication

Ethnicity data is essential to the measurement and monitoring of Māori health and inequalities in health status, experiences, and outcomes in New Zealand. Issues in monitoring Māori health and ethnic disparities: an update is one in a series of topic-based discussion papers considering ethnicity data issues. It discusses technical and practical issues that relate to the monitoring of Māori health and ethnic inequalities in health over time. It is part of a broader project funded by Te Kete Hauora, Ministry of Health to investigate issues with ethnicity data in New Zealand, and the implications of these for the Māori health and disability sector.

Note about revisions to the Official Statistical Standard for Ethnicity

Statistics New Zealand has recently released a final report on the review of the official statistical standard for ethnicity. The review makes a number of recommendations in relation to the ethnicity question, the official classification, and communication and research.

This discussion paper (Issues in monitoring Māori health and ethnic disparities: an update) was in press at the time of release of Statistics New Zealand's final recommendations. Statistics New Zealand has recommended the retention of the current ethnicity question, as was indicated in the discussion paper. In relation to the classification system, the paper makes reference to Statistics New Zealand's draft recommendation to move the 'New Zealander' category to Level 3 within the broader European category. The final recommendation, however, is that 'New Zealander' responses should be retained within the broader 'Other Ethnicity' category at Level 4, and that a second alternate category (grouping 'New Zealander' responses with the 'European' category) be added. A recommendation was also included exempting administrative collections from coding 'New Zealander' responses to the 'Other Ethnicity' category where there is a "low level" of such responses. More about it...

While these recommendations from Statistics New Zealand differ from those referred in the discussion paper, the issues around comparability over time and across datasets remain in relation to changes to the classification.

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Suggested Citation

Cormack D & Harris R. 2009. Issues in monitoring Māori health and ethnic disparaties: an update. Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare: Wellington

Correspondence

Comments on this paper should be sent to: Donna Cormack, Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 7343, Wellington South. Email: donna.cormack@otago.ac.nz