Northland District Health Board has shown improvement in three out of six areas targeted by the Ministry of Health, according to the latest quarterly performance figures for all 20 health boards.
The areas include shorter stays in emergency departments; improved access to elective surgery; shorter waits for cancer treatment; increased immunisation; better help for smokers to quit; more heart and diabetes checks.
Northland sits second highest in New Zealand for improved access to elective surgery, fifth in helping smokers to quit, and sixth in increased heart and diabetes checks.
Of Northland adults, 5.4 per cent are estimated to have cardiovascular disease and 6.9 per cent have been diagnosed with diabetes.
"Clearly early risk detection will increase their life expectancy and give them the tools to lead a healthier lifestyle," said Northland District Health Board chief executive Nick Chamberlain.
Northland is sitting unchanged at 14th for achieving shorter stays in emergency departments.
The region appears at the top of the table for shorter waiting lists for radiotherapy or chemotherapy cancer treatment. However, those services are not provided in the region, with patients sent to other centres for treatment.
Northland is trailing all but one of New Zealand's 20 health districts when it comes to the number of kids being immunised. Only West Coast's immunisation rate is lower.
The figure reflects Northland's whooping cough rate alone being nearly twice the national average, said Dr Chamberlain.
"We remain focused on improving our results, especially the immunisation rate because of the impact it can have on the health of our children, and the more heart and diabetes checks as these checks will help people lead healthier lives.
"We have a steady - but slower than we would like - improvement in the immunisation target. We genuinely urge Northlanders to ensure that they immunise on time."