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Māori and especially Māori men have topped what are the worst suicide statistics this century.
Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall today reported 668 people took their own lives between July 2017 and June 2018, including 142 Māori.
It’s the fourth year in a row the number has increased.
It included 97 Māori males, 12 percent more than last year.
The suicide rate per 100,000 people was 13.67, up from 12.64 the previous year.
The number of female suicides increased 30 percent to 193.
Suicide Mortality Review Committee chair Rob Kydd says there is no single cause of suicide and there will be no single solution.
He says the disproportionately high among Māori and Pacific peoples shows firm action must be taken to address the impacts of colonisation and social disadvantage, which continue to drive inequities in access to health care and health outcomes.
This includes recognising the importance of cultural identity, connectedness, whānau and te reo Māori.
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