The government has come under fire for its lack of a specific Māori suicide prevention strategy

The government has come under fire for its lack of a specific Maori suicide prevention strategy, despite a sharp spike in the Maori suicide rate this year. The long-awaited strategy, was launched yesterday on World Suicide Prevention Day. It was revealed last month that the Maori suicide rate had jumped from 23 to 28 per 100-thousand. In the year to June, 169 Maori died by suicide. There has been support for the government's special mention of its Treaty Relationship, and the high suicide rates of suicide for Maori in its strategy, but some say this doesn't go further enough. Meriana Johnsen reports.