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An increase in the rate of Māori suicides had driven up the overall suicide rate.
Releasing the figures for the 2018/2019 year the chief coroner, Judge Deborah Marshall, said Māori accounted for 169 of the 685 deaths, up from 142 the previous year.
The rate increased from 23.72 per 100,000 to 28.23, compared to the overall rate of 13.93.
The European rate dropped from 13.94 to 13.46 per 100,000.
She says the reasons for suicide are numerous and depend on many factors such as early life experiences at home and at school, employment status, mental health, economic and health status, sense of belonging, sense of purpose, world view and more.
Maria Baker from Māori health workforce promotion agency Te Rau Ora says the statistics demonstrate the need to prioritise Māori suicide prevention and to better understand the issues affecting Māori communities.
She says that can only be done by including Māori in discussions to identify issues and to determine the best solutions.
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