Kiwis getting healthier, but issues persist in deprived areas: survey

87 per cent of elderly Kiwis say they're in good health - up from 80 per cent seven years ago.

Kiwis are getting healthier, but New Zealand still faces serious health issues, especially in the most deprived areas.

Nine out of 10 adults rate their health as good, very good or excellent and 87 per cent of elderly Kiwis say they're in good health - up from 80 per cent seven years ago.

The smoking rate in youth has declined and fewer young people are hazardous drinkers, according to the 2013/2014 New Zealand Health Survey.

But people in socio-economically deprived areas have higher rates of health risks and problems than the rest of the population, including smoking, hazardous drinking, obesity, diabetes, psychological distress, and low fruit and vegetable intake.

Three out of 10 New Zealand adults and one in 10 children are obese, meaning there's been no significant change in the obesity rates in the past two years, the annual Ministry of Health survey found. Over two-thirds of Pacific adults and a quarter of Pacific children are obese.

Smoking rates in Maori remain high, with 41 per cent smoking monthly, almost exactly the same rate as seven years ago.

The report says smoking rates and obesity are connected to socio-economic deprivation, with the rate of child obesity in deprived areas 2.7 times higher than in the least deprived areas.

About one in three adults in the most deprived areas hadn't gone to the doctor for a health problem in the past year, compared with one in five in the least deprived areas.

Only half of adults went to the dentist in the past year, with adults in the least deprived areas 40 per cent less likely to have gone to the dentist.

The survey was based on interviews with more than 13,000 adults and the parents of more than 4000 children.

How healthy are we?
91% of adults rate their health as good, very good or excellent - up on 87 per cent last year (98% of parents consider their kids in good health).
41% of Maori smoke at least monthly.
16% of adults have a hazardous drinking problem - down from 18 per cent seven years ago.
30% of adults are obese.
18% of adults have a diagnosed mood disorder.
- Source: 2013/2014 New Zealand Health Survey