These data tables give regional estimates from the 2011/12 New Zealand Health Survey, and selected time trends from 2006/07.
Results are available for:
- the four regions (Northern, Midland, Central, Southern) (adults and children)
- larger public health units (Auckland Regional Public Health, Health Waikato, Toi te Ora, Public Health MidCentral, Regional Public Health, Community and Public Health, Public Health Southern) (adults only)
- larger district health boards (Waitemata, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast, Canterbury, Southern) (adults only).
Results are available by sex, age group and, in some cases, ethnic group. Results will become available for other Public Health Units and district Health Boards in future years, as more survey data is collected.
National results from the 2011/12 New Zealand Health Survey are available in the reports The Health of New Zealand Adults 2011/12 and The Health of New Zealand Children 2011/12.
Key Results
Selected key findings
Upper North Island
- Smoking was less common among adults living in Auckland DHB (14%) and Waitemata DHB (16%) than the national average (18%).
- About 8% of adults living in Counties Manukau DHB report having been diagnosed with diabetes. This is higher than the national average of 5%.
- The adult obesity rate was higher in Waikato DHB (35%) than the national average (29%).
Lower North Island
- In the past 12 months, one in five adults (21%) and children (20%) living in the lower North Island was unable to get an appointment at their usual medical centre within 24 hours of wanting one. These rates were higher than the national rates (15% and 14% respectively).
South Island
- People living in the South Island were much more likely to be physically active (73%) than the national average (54%). They were also more likely to eat the recommended daily amount of vegetables (83%) and fruit (63%) than the national averages (68% and 58%).
- Children living in the South Island were less likely to watch two or more hours of TV each day (46%) than the national average (53%). They also had a lower obesity rate (7%) than the national child rate (11%).
- Adults and children living in the South Island were more likely to have had a dental visit in the past 12 months (55% and 84% respectively) than the national average (49% and 79%).
Canterbury
- Hazardous drinking rates were lower in Canterbury DHB (10%) than the national average (15%). The rate for Canterbury DHB has decreased since 2006/07 (19%).
- People living in Canterbury DHB had a higher rate of diagnosed common mental disorders (21%) than the national average (16%).
- In 2011/12, psychological distress was less common in Canterbury DHB (3%) than nationally (6%).
It is unclear how people report stress following a natural disaster, or how the Kessler-10 screen for psychological distress performs under these conditions. These results should be interpreted with caution.