Media Release
23 October 2005
Maori more likely to catch Aids
Auckland researcher and academic Dr Clive Aspin will tell the Pan Pacific HIV/AIDS conference in Auckland tomorrow that
we are seeing changes in the AIDS epidemic that may place Maori at increased risk of HIV.
“When we compare rates of those people who are likely to have been infected in New Zealand, Maori rates are
disproportionately high,” Dr Aspin said.
“In recent years, Maori rates of AIDS diagnois have hovered around 15 to 20%, well above the 14% population threshold.”
Dr Aspin also said that the infection rates amongst Maori women are especially concerning.
“Since 1995, there have been regular notifications of Maori women with HIV, something that we did not see in the early
days of the epidemic.”
“For some years, government reports have said that Maori are vulnerable and at increased risk of HIV infection. Now is
the time to do something tangible to ensure that rates don’t escalate”
ENDS