Life expectancy for Maori females born in the region increased 1.9 years to 75.7 years. For non-Maori males, it is 80.6 years and for non-Maori females 84.5.
Mrs Prime is four years over the life expectancy while her husband is 10 years over. The pair say they are still "quite young" and are surprised by the statistics.
"Well, we are young, you hear about people still running around and they're 100," said Mrs Prime.
The couple, who have been married for 58 years, both had members of their whanau die young. Mrs Prime's mother passed away at 36 from tuberculosis, and two of Mr Prime's siblings died from meningitis when they were toddlers.
The couple say they credit their longevity to three things -- aroha, the Lord, and their children and mokopuna.
"We're both ministers and that has a big deal in it. Lifestyle has something to do with it," Mrs Prime said.
Through work as hospital chaplains and prison chaplains, they have witnessed people struggling and said aroha was key.
"You just want the best for them, you see the lifestyle, the home life and it's not so good. It's about the Lord. At church, we have different beliefs but it's the same God. When the church can pray, when the community can pray, when people pray -- we see results."
With five children, 17 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, the pair said mokopuna kept them young, and looking after tamariki was important to improving the life expectancy.
"I love my grandchildren, I'm always finding excuses to see them. They're going to be the Prime Minister[s] of tomorrow, we need to look after them," said Mrs Prime.
Kim Tito, general manager for Maori Health and Mental Health and Addiction Services at Northland DHB, said there were many factors that contributed to the gap between Maori and non-Maori life expectancy.
"The things that kill most Maori are all cancers, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, motor vehicle accidents and suicide," he said.
Other health risks included low intervention rates for cancer, poor access to services and poor oral health in Maori children and youth.
Mr Tito said there were many ways the gap could be closed, including eliminating health barriers for Maori.
"Ways of intervening could be wrapped up in Whanau Ora programmes -- a kaupapa that Maori can buy into.
"We need to intervene at birth. Focusing on tobacco would have an effect on sudden unexplained death of an infant," he said.
Ngapuhi spokesman Tio Taiaki said the improvements in life expectancy were positive but several challenges needed attention.
"That Northland Maori are living slightly longer is a good trend. Northland has its own challenges that need to be understood in comparison with other regions."
