22,000 in HB live in poverty, report finds

More than 22,000 people live in parts of Hawke's Bay ranked in the 10 percent most deprived areas in the country, a report released today says.
The report, by the Public Health Advisory Committee, examines how factors such as education, employment, occupation, housing, location and income affect health. It found 2640 people in Wairoa, 12,333 in Hastings, 7050 in Napier and 468 in Central Hawke's Bay live in the deprived areas.
In Napier, the report identifies Maraenui and Marewa, and to a lesser extent Napier South as the worst-affected while the most deprived areas of Hastings are Flaxmere, Camberley, Mayfair and Central Hastings.
The report found the strongest influences on health came from factors outside the health system, and Government departments and local authorities needed to examine the impact of policies on community health.
"Why should a child's chances of life and health be so much less if they are born into a low-income household?" committee chairman Geoff Fougere asked.
He said that while the life expectancy and overall health of New Zealanders had improved dramatically over the past century, not all groups had benefited equally.
Large differences existed in mortality between ethnic groups even after allowing for variances in income.
"Gaps have been widening recently between Maori and non-Maori in both life expectancy and health status, and there are large differences in health between those in advantaged material circumstances and those in deprived conditions," Mr Fougere said.
Labour market and benefit changes in the late 1980s and early 1990s had a negative effect on low income households, particularly on children and Maori, the report to the Minister of Health found.
"During the past 20 years, Maori life expectancy improved little but has recently shown signs of improvement. However, premature death and disease in the Maori population remain at unacceptable high levels," the report said.
As income decreased, rates of poor health increased and effects were ongoing.
"Poverty is multidimensional and people experience its effects throughout their lives."
Mr Fougere said tackling disparities in health was one of the biggest public health challenges. "We must break the cycles of disadvantage that increase risks to health." Government policies, which lessened social inequalities, also lessened health inequalities, he said.
Recent research estimated that if all New Zealanders enjoyed the health levels of the country's healthiest, about 4800 deaths could be avoided.
The report recommended the Government adopt an official poverty measure by July 2005 and aim to reduce child poverty by at least 30 per cent by 2007.
It urged the Government to assign an appropriate body to be responsible for co-ordinating policies and monitoring the effects on health inequalities.
The report also recommended routine reporting of socioeconomic status, ethnicity and health data and research to identify ways to reduce inequalities. The report is titled "The Health of People and Communities: A Way Forward - Public Policy and the Economic Determinants of Health".