The rate of hospitalisation as a result of assault or attempted homicide was nearly six times higher for Māori women than non-Māori women over the past three years.
Rates of hospitalisation or death as a result of physical attacks are significantly higher for Māori than non-Māori, according to the Ministry of Health. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
This is one of the figures in the Ministry of Health's Tatau Kahukura: Māori Health Chart Book 2015, which shows Māori are more likely to suffer adverse health effects from violence.
Hospitalisation rates for Māori men as a result of assault or attempted homicide were nearly three times higher than non-Māori men between 2012 and 2014.
Death rates from assault or homicide, meanwhile, were nearly four times as high for Māori men as non-Māori men between 2010 and 2012, while death rates from assault or homicide for Māori women were 1.6 times higher than non-Māori women.
National Network of Stopping Violence kaiarahi Trevor Wilson said the figures should be seen in the context of a lack of access to housing, income, education, and a fair and just legal system.
"Nobody likes violence, least of all ourselves. We are absolutely abhorrent of the amount of violence that's happening in our communities. Yes, male violence is too high, it's too high in any community. One person being beaten is too high," he said.
"However when you look at the response from government agencies in regards to that, it tells a much bigger story about the needs of Māori not being met."
