Health New Zealand says Māori childhood immunisation rates are showing significant improvement, with more tamariki receiving their full immunisations by the age of two.
New figures show full immunisation coverage for Māori children at 24 months has risen from just over 60 percent in late 2024 to 71.5 percent at the end of April this year.
The improvement is being welcomed as an important step forward in protecting tamariki from preventable diseases, although health officials acknowledge more work is still needed to close the equity gap between Māori and non-Māori immunisation rates.
The difference between Māori and non-Māori coverage has narrowed from 14.3 percent to 12 percent over the same period.
Health New Zealand says the progress reflects ongoing collaboration between whānau, iwi, communities, Hauora Māori partners, and healthcare providers focused on improving access to immunisation services.
Efforts to increase uptake have included expanding outreach services, home visits for tamariki overdue for vaccinations, and community-based approaches designed to better meet the needs of whānau.
Health officials say removing barriers to care has been critical, particularly for families facing transport, cost, scheduling, or healthcare access challenges.
Public health campaigns have also focused on sharing real experiences from whānau about the importance of immunisation and the risks associated with preventable diseases such as measles.
The campaigns highlighted stories from families whose children were either immunocompromised or became seriously unwell before reaching immunisation age, helping reinforce the role vaccines play in protecting both individual tamariki and wider communities.
Health experts say improving immunisation rates remains a major priority as New Zealand continues facing periodic outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Public health authorities have repeatedly warned declining childhood immunisation coverage in recent years increased the risk of outbreaks, particularly among vulnerable communities.
Health New Zealand says it remains committed to working alongside Māori health providers, iwi organisations, and communities to continue lifting immunisation rates and improving long-term health outcomes for tamariki Māori.
The organisation says the latest figures demonstrate the value of culturally responsive healthcare approaches that place whānau and community relationships at the centre of service delivery.
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