New Zealand's injury toll a national outrage

If every man, woman and child in Rotorua were to incapacitated by injury in the same week, there would be a national outcry.

Yet that, in effect, is what happened in the second six months of last year when 51,637 people around the country suffered moderate-to-serious injuries – injuries that were bad enough to entitle to them to income or rehabilitation support from ACC.

If that were not enough, 421 New Zealanders died from injuries in that period, the population of a small town.

If these figures are enough to undermine our sense of security, at least we know that when we go home from work or school, our homes are safe places to be.

Wrong. More people, 10,673 in fact, suffered moderate-to-serious injuries in their homes than in any other of the injury location categories in this survey.

"People may think their home is their castle, but with a jump of 382 in the number injured, safe as houses had a hollow ring in the second half of last year," says ACC's General Manager of Injury Prevention, Darrin Goulding.

The regional picture is not particularly attractive either.

Nationally, industrial places were the second worst category recorded, although the total of 9,222 was down 7.65 percent on the second half of 2001.

That, unfortunately, was countered by a 30 percent jump to 4880 in the commercial locations category.

Although sports injuries were down slightly, they continue to be a major contributor to our injury statistics, claiming 6,627 over the period.

"The good news is that serious sports injuries were down to nine from 14 in the second half of 2001," Mr Goulding says. While the national injury statistics are nothing to be proud of, Mr Goulding says it is encouraging that serious injuries dropped to 130 from 168 in the second half of 2001.

IN AUCKLAND, 9879 people suffered significant injuries. In the home, they were up a massive 23.75 percent to 2678. And in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 3192 people were hurt, while 1433 were injured during sport and recreation and 967 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 879 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 463.

IN THE BAY OF PLENTY, 2913 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 737 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 1013 people were hurt.

Another 373 were injured during sport and recreation and 270 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 366 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 79.

IN CANTERBURY, 6041 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 1268 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 2574 people were hurt.

Another 1020 were injured during sport and recreation and 471 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 463 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 127.

IN GISBORNE, 607 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 163 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 220 people were hurt.

Another 81 were injured during sport and recreation and 49 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 69 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 16.

IN HAWKES BAY, 1675 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 478 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 650 people were hurt.

Another 187 were injured during sport and recreation and 143 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 137 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 48.

IN MANAWATU-WANGANUI, 2984 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 704 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 1068 people were hurt.

Another 553 were injured during sport and recreation and 266 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 217 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 107.

IN MARLBOROUGH, 626 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 118 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 267 people were hurt.

Another 92 were injured during sport and recreation and 62 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 61 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 15.

IN NELSON, 799 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 185 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 321 people were hurt.

Another 117 were injured during sport and recreation and 73 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 68 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 10.

IN NORTHLAND, 1795 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 503 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 638 people were hurt.

Another 219 were injured during sport and recreation and 184 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 153 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 56.

IN OTAGO, 3096 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 620 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 1091 people were hurt.

Another 622 were injured during sport and recreation and 263 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 345 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 94.

IN SOUTHLAND, 1397 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 287 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 705 people were hurt.

Another 160 were injured during sport and recreation and 105 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 95 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 21.

IN TARANAKI, 1302 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 402 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 434 people were hurt.

Another 181 were injured during sport and recreation and 113 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 112 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 38.

IN TASMAN, 227 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 48 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 110 people were hurt.

Another 26 were injured during sport and recreation and 18 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 23 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories.

IN THE WAIKATO, 4529 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 1173 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 1698 people were hurt.

Another 616 were injured during sport and recreation and 402 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 445 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 90.

IN WELLINGTON, 3962 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 1123 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 1217 people were hurt.

Another 653 were injured during sport and recreation and 408 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 317 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 115.

ON THE WEST COAST, 474 people suffered significant injuries.

The home accounted for 108 of these, while in the workplace (farm, industrial and commercial) 203 people were hurt.

Another 63 were injured during sport and recreation and 42 were injured on the roads and streets.

A further 36 injuries were classified as "other" because the accident scene did not fit within the main categories while the accident scene was simply "unknown" for another 7.

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