Suicide rates have risen yet again - with 685 people dying by suicide in the past year - that's 17 more lives lost.
The number of Māori taking their own lives has increased 19 percent on the year previous.
And Māori suicide rate is more than than twice the rate of New Zealand Europeans.
These provisional figures were supposed to be released by the chief Coroner at midday Tuesday, but the Māori Council forced the Justice Ministry's hand by breaking the embargo and going public with the figures it says are a national disgrace.
Matthew Tukaki, executive director of the Māori Council, tells Lisa Owen why he released the figures early.
