Kiwis living longer

The life expectancy of New Zealanders is continuing to rise.

Statistics New Zealand figures for 2005-2007 show a newborn girl can expect to live 82.2 years and a boy 78.0 years - an increase of 1 year for females and 1.7 years for males since 2000-2002.

Life expectancy for Maori females is 75.1 years, and 70.4 years for Maori males.

Statistics NZ said the difference between Maori and non-Maori life expectancy was partly because of rates of smoking and diabetes, as well as socio-economic background.