Labour's policies help reduce inequalities

Health Minister Pete Hodgson has welcomed the publication of new research showing that while inequality in health outcomes between ethnic groups and across income brackets grew steeply in the 1980s and 1990s, it appears that they have now stopped growing and may have even started to narrow.

The Minister says that the report - Tracking Disparity - underlines the importance of the Labour led government's seven and a half year's of investment in New Zealand families, and of the need for more work to reduce inequalities even further.

"The Labour-led government's vision is for a society where no New Zealander has their long-term health predetermined by their ethnicity or the size of their bank account," Pete Hodgson said.

"The research released today shows us that we have a lot of work to do before that vision is fulfilled. In particular, all New Zealanders should be ashamed that Maori life expectancy is still lower than European New Zealanders.

"Still, today's news confirms that the disparities between ethnic groups and income brackets that grew rapidly between 1981 and 1999 have now stopped growing and may even have begun to narrow. This is a significant achievement and an important milestone in our country's work to build a more just society.

"This achievement is in no small part a credit to New Zealand's dedicated health workforce who have helped deliver more affordable primary health care, more access to screening programmes, and higher awareness about the contribution of lifestyle factors to poor health outcomes.

"But we know that many factors that contribute to the reduction of inequalities in health will come from outside the health sector. Over the past seven and a half years, the Labour-led government has invested heavily in affordable housing for low-income New Zealanders, in economic development to create jobs, in tax breaks for families to reduce poverty, and in greater access to education from pre-school straight through to tertiary.

"Today's report confirms that a turning point has been reached. It also endorses this government's call for further investment in the success of New Zealand families."

Tracking Disparity: Trends in ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, 1981 - 2004 is available on the Ministry of Health website at: www.moh.govt.nz

ENDS

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