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Alcohol related Emergency Department visits
This indicator looks at young people who have received care at an emergency department (ED) related to alcohol. It includes people aged 10-24 where alcohol consumption was directly related to the presentation or as a consequence of others’ alcohol consumption.
Why is this important?
- Binge drinking (having lots of alcohol in a short period) can lead to violence, injuries and emotional trauma.
- Drinking alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions.
- Drinking more than the recommended number of standard alcoholic drinks per day (and per week) can cause serious health, personal and social problems. Ministry of Health NZ
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What do these pictures show?
- On average, about 6% (6 out of 100) young people aged 10-24 going to ED were attending because of alcohol.
- The majority of alcohol related ED visits in youth were among 15–24 year olds, about 6-10% (6-10 of 100) of all youth ED visits.
- Males tended to present more than females for alcohol related visits.
- There are more alcohol related presentations at Dunedin and Lakes District Hospitals than at Southland Hospital.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The Ministry of Health recommends that children and young people under 18 years do not drink any alcohol, especially those aged under 15 years, who are at the greatest risk of harm.
- Alcohol related emergency department visits in young people are lower in Southern than the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand, but our whanau/families and communities need support to help eliminate drinking to excess.
For more alcohol related reports from Southern DHB see:
For more information on managing alcohol use see:
- Your Teen, Their Future (nosafelimit.co.nz)
- Advice for parents and caregivers | Alcohol.org.nz
- Low-risk alcohol drinking advice
https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/addictions/alcohol-and-drug-abuse/alcohol
Babies living in smoke-free homes
This indicator looks at pēpē/babies who are living in smoke-free homes at six weeks of age.
Why is this important?
- Pēpē /Babies and tamariki/children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to get sick or go to hospital. This includes health problems like:
- ear infections, like glue ear
- lung and breathing illness, like croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or asthma and wheeze
- Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI or cot death)
- Poor development and difficulties learning. Second-hand smoke | Health Promotion Agency
- Helping caregivers and whānau keep the home smoke-free, also has wide benefits for the health of all family members.
What does this picture show?
- Six-week-old babies in Southern are more likely to live in smoke-free homes compared to all of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- In 2019-2020, 62% (62 out of 100) six-week-old babies in Southern were living in a smoke-free home. This is higher than Aotearoa/New Zealand overall.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Ideally, all homes are smoke free. The goal is that 95% (95 out of 100) pēpē /babies live in a smoke-free home when checked at six weeks.
- Too many pēpē /babies are being exposed to tobacco smoke at home.
- Whānau/families need more support to stop smoking and remain smoke-free everyone’s health.
It is never too late to quit. If you would like help to stop smoking – click here
Smokefree whānau | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Breastfeeding
This indicator looks at breastfeeding for pēpē/babies from birth up to six months of age.
Why is this important?
- Breastfeeding:
- is all your pēpē/baby needs to eat and drink for about the first 6 months
- helps protect your pēpē/baby from colds, tummy bugs, other infections and allergies. It also helps to protect your pēpē/baby from dying suddenly in their sleep
- helps your pēpē/baby to feel safe and secure. Ministry of Health NZ
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends pēpē/babies only having breast milk (as known as exclusive breastfeeding) until 6 months of age. Breastfeeding (WHO)
What do these pictures show?
- Since 2014, around 70% (or 7 out of 10) of pēpē/babies at 6 weeks are exclusively or fully breastfed*.
- The percentage of pēpē/babies who are exclusively or fully breastfed at three months of age has increased slightly from 55% in 2014 to 65% (or 55 – 65 of 100 pēpē/babies).
- In general, as a pēpē/baby gets older it is less likely they will be breastfed:
- 70-75% (or 70-75 of 100) pēpē/babies are exclusively or fully breastfed* at six weeks of age.
- 8-13% (or 8-13 of 100) pēpē/babies will still be breastfed at six months of age in addition to solid food and water.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Ideally, at least 80% (or 80 of 100) pēpē/babies would be exclusively or fully breastfed until three months of age or older.
- Although there has been some increase in the number of pēpē/babies being breastfed at three months of age, women and their whānau need continued support stick with breastfeeding until their pēpē/babies are older.
For additional reports on breastfeeding see: South-Island-Breastfeeding-Report-April-181.pdf (sialliance.health.nz) and NZBA
For help with breastfeeding in Southern see: Postnatal Care | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu or Breastfeeding Support Otago & Southland | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Driving under the influence
This indicator looks at people found by NZ Police to be driving under the influence of alcohol* or other substances*. This is also known as drink or drug driving.
Why is this important?
- Alcohol and drugs can impair a person’s ability to drive safely.
- Driving under the influence can contribute to serious injuries needing medical treatment and even the death of the driver or others.
- According to the New Zealand police, alcohol is a factor in about one third of crashes where someone dies. New Zealand Police
What do these pictures show?
- The number of people found driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances and reported as offence proceedings by NZ police.
- Driving under the influence happens at all ages.
- The majority of police proceedings for driving under the influence are given to people aged between 20-29 years.
- More males than females undergo police proceedings for driving under the influence.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The pattern of young adults driving under the influence persists over time in Southern.
- Better understanding these patterns helps health planners target strategies to help reduce this behaviour.
For more information on driving under the influence:
For information about driving under the influence throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand see:
Education
This indicator looks at the levels of education (qualifications*) reported by people aged 15 years and older in the census survey. Qualifications* are divided into 10 levels: (The New Zealand Qualification Framework).
- Levels 1-3 - National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) secondary school qualifications.
- Levels 4-6 – certificates or diplomas.
- Levels 7-10 – tertiary or university undergraduate and post graduate certificates, diplomas or degrees.
Why is this important?
- Education and health are closely connected. The links between the two are complex. In general:
- higher levels of education are linked to job opportunities, access to economic and social resources, and better health literacy*.
- higher levels of education are associated with longer life expectancy, less chronic disease and less disability.
What do these pictures show?
- Overtime, more Southerners are getting higher level qualifications.
- In 2018, about 80 percent or 8 in 10 Southerners, had a formal qualification.
- Southern has slightly more people with no qualifications compared to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- In 2018, about 20 percent or 2 in 10 people, left school without getting a qualification.
- Education differs based on ethnic background. Asians are the least likely to leave school without a qualification compared to other ethnic groups.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Southern has a lot of people getting formal qualifications, but there continue to be differences in level of qualification achieved throughout the district .
- Southern needs to keep supporting people with strategies to access and attain qualifications.
Considering getting a qualification? See Careers New Zealand.
Fruit and vegetable intake
This indicator looks at fruit and vegetable intake of Southerners.
Why is this important?
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A healthy diet, combined with physical activity helps children grow and develop well.
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A healthy diet at any age helps people live longer and can help prevent long term health problems such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many cancers.
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Looking at a population’s intake of fruit and vegetables can be used as a marker of a healthy diet. Health of New Zealanders data and stats.
- Adequate fruit and vegetable intake is defined by the New Zealand Ministry of Health as:
- at least of 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit per day for adults, and
- at least 2-3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit per day for tamakriki aged 2-14 years. Current Guidelines | Ministry of Health NZ
What do these pictures show?
Adults:
- Less than half of adults aged 15 and older met the Ministry of Health’s recommended guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake. Adequate fruit and vegetable intake has decreased over time. This is similar to the findings for adults from across Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- The percentage of adults meeting the Ministry of Health’s recommended fruit and vegetable guidelines increases with age.
- There was variation of fruit and vegetable intake across ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
- A higher percentage of those living in less deprived areas have adequate intake. In recent years, those in the most deprived areas have started to report more fruit and vegetable intake.
- Those in European and Māori groups had greater fruit and vegetable intake than Pacific and Asian groups.
Tamariki/Children aged 2-14:
- About half of Southern tamariki ate the recommended amount of vegetables each day.
- About three quarters of Southern tamariki ate the recommended amount of fruit each day.
- Adequate fruit and vegetable intake has decreased slightly overtime. This similar to the findings from across Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- There was variation of fruit and vegetable intake across ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
- Those living in less deprived areas were more likely to report adequate intake of fruit and vegetables.
- European and Māori groups had higher fruit and vegetable intake compare to Asian groups.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Overall, many Southerners are not meeting the current Ministry of Health guidelines around healthy eating.
- There are many reasons why people may struggle to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, including the ability to access healthy food also known as food hardship or nutritional foundations.
- Southern has several programmes available to help people learn more about healthy eating and how to access healthy food.
For more information on the dietary habits in Aotearoa/New Zealand see:
Reports into New Zealanders' eating and drinking habits | Ministry of Health NZ
Food Hardship and Early Childhood Nutrition - Ministry of Social Development (msd.govt.nz)
For resources on healthy eating see:
Choose a balance of healthy food
Low Cost Food and Transport Map » WellSouth
Green Prescription - Otago & Southland | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Household crowding
This indicator looks at the number of people living in a house and whether it is crowded.
Why is this important?
- Households are considered crowded when there are more than two people to a bedroom.
- People who live in crowded homes can be more likely to get sick from germs that pass easily from one person to another.
- Sick people often need time off work, school or other activities.
What do these pictures show?
- The Tāhuna/Queenstown-Lakes area has the most household crowding in Southern.
- Households in Southern have less crowding than other parts of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- There are increasing numbers of crowded households in recent years.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Southern households are less crowded than the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand, but our households are getting more crowded.
- To help keep Southerners from getting sick due to crowded living, planners need to know where this is happening and look at ways to prevent and stop it.
Household income
This indicator looks at how much money (income) a whole household has, before the tax gets taken out.
Why is this important?
- Money helps people buy the things they need to live like food, clothes and rent.
- People who make more money sometimes have better health and wellbeing, compared to people who make less.
- Knowing how much money Southerners have in different parts of the district helps health planners.
What does this picture show?
The average household income before tax:
- in Southland was $1,959.00 each week.
- in Otago was $1,728.00 each week.
What does this picture show?
- Tāhuna/Queenstown Lakes area has the highest yearly income in Southern.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The amount of money people make has been going up over the years.
- Southerners still make less money than the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand overall.
- It is important that Southerners get support to keep them healthy no matter how much money they make.
Housing Affordability
This indicator looks at the affordability of housing in Southern. Housing affordability is about the ability of people to pay housing costs. Stats NZ
Why is this important?
- Being able to access housing is a basic human need and important for health and wellbeing.
- Money left over after paying rent or mortgage repayments often determines how much people have left to spend on other important things in life.
- Low-income households who spend a large portion of their income on housing may be forced to reduce spending on other essentials such food and health.
What do these pictures show?
- The percentage of Southern homeowners who spend more than 30% of their income on mortgages has increased over time.
- In 2018, all regions in the Southern district spent more than 30% of their income on mortgages. Queenstown and Dunedin City spent the most compared to Southland and Clutha who spent the least.
- The percentage of income tenants spend on rent has remained more stable overtime. In 2018, most tenants spent less than 30% of their income on rent.
- In most Southern areas renting is more affordable than the national average, with the exceptions of Dunedin City and Queenstown Lakes.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Housing affordability has gone up and down between 2003 – 2018. On balance, people were spending more of their income on either mortgage or rental payments in 2018 than they were in 2013.
- Looking at how much people spend on housing can help understand the financial and social pressures they face.
For more information on housing affordability in New Zealand see:
The state of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand | Stats NZ
International-comparisons-of-housing-affordability.docx (live.com)
Housing quality
These indicators look at houses with dampness* and visible mould*. Dampness is when a home feels or smells damp or has damp patches on the wall, ceiling, floor, or window frames.
Why is this important?
- Housing quality is linked to health and wellbeing.
- Living in damp and mouldy housing increases the risk of ill health, especially things like lung and skin infections.
- There is strong evidence that living in houses without mould and dampness improves people’s health. Ministry of Health NZ
Compare mould and damp statistics on this interactive map from StatsNZ.
What do these pictures show?
- Around 20% or (1 in 5) houses in Southern experience dampness.
- Around 15% or (3 in 20) houses in Southern experience mould.
- dampness and mould in houses is reported slightly less in Southern compared to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- Exposure to dampness and mould in houses varies based on ethnicity.
- Māori and Pacific people live in houses with more dampness or mould than other ethnic groups.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Southern houses are slightly drier and have less visible mould than other parts of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- but too many people in Southern live in in poor quality housing.
- too few people in Southern own their own home.
- poor housing quality does not affect people equally in Southern.
- Knowing where poor quality housing is and who lives there can help planners target services to support Healthy Homes.
To find out more about Healthy Homes:
Southern Health website
Warmer Kiwi Homes
Kaitiakitanga | Caring for the environment
This indicator shows the level of importance Māori aged 15 years and over place on the health of the natural environment.
Why is this important?
- Kaitiakitanga is the guardianship, protection, preservation and/or sheltering of the environment. It represents the relationship or connection between humans and the natural world, such as waterways or forest. Maintaining balance between communities and nature is fundamental and can include encouraging the practice of recycling or placing a rāhui on areas to restrict activities for a period of time, such as limiting or stopping collection of seafood or water-based activities.
What do these pictures show?
- In Aotearoa/New Zealand as a whole, nearly 70% (7 out of 10) Māori adults said the health of the natural environment was very important.
- In Southern:
- The health of the natural environment is quite or very important to over 80% (8 out of 10) of surveyed Māori adults.
- Less than 1% placed no importance on environmental health.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Understanding the significance to Southern Māori of caring for and having a healthy natural environment is important for:
- Supporting people to maintain cultural connections which are key part of good health.
- Empowering our communities to make informed decisions about their health.
- Health service planning and delivery.
- Empowering Southern to use our resources responsibly and sustainably
For more information on caring for the environment
Kaitiakitanga – guardianship and conservation – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Māori culture
This indicator shows the level of importance Māori aged 15 years and over place on connecting with Māori culture.
Why is this important?
- Understanding one’s culture provides a sense of belonging, community, and identity. It enables connections and relationships to be established and communities to become closer together (cohesive).
What do these pictures show?
- Nearly one-third (33%) of Southern Māori adults said being involved in Māori culture was very or quite important to them, and half indicated their culture was somewhat important.
- In Southern:
- Majority (over 8 out of 10) of Māori adults knew their iwi.
- Half of Māori adults had discussed and explored their whakapapa or family history in the previous 12 months.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Understanding the significance of culture is important for:
- Supporting people to maintain cultural connections which are key part of good health.
- Empowering our communities to make informed decisions about their health.
- Health service planning and delivery.
- Building partnerships and support networks.
- Providing a safe place.
- Supporting the cultural safety of the health workforce.
For more information
Māori culture and heritage
Te Ao Māori | Ministry for the Environment
Te Ao Māori | The Māori world, Māori ki Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou, University of Otago, New Zealand
Te Ara Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage (mch.govt.nz)
Overweight and obese adults
This indicator shows the percentage of Southern adults who are overweight or obese,* meaning having a BMI* of 25.0 (or greater).
Why is this important?
- Carrying excess body weight is linked to a number of harmful health conditions, such as: type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis, complications of pregnancy, mental health issues, many types of cancer and other illnesses.
- These conditions impact people’s health, their quality of life and place demands on health care provision.
- Reducing and maintaining a healthy weight can help improve current health and prevent future health problems.
What does this picture show?
- The number of overweight or obese people in Southern has been increasing over time.
- In 2019/2020, nearly three quarters of Southern’s people aged 15 years and older were either overweight or obese. This was slightly higher than the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Southern’s overweight and obesity numbers are very high and continue to grow.
- Supporting our population to achieve healthier body weight through improved nutrition and physical activity levels is fundamental to improving their health and well-being.
- Southern has continued investing in a number of programmes to tackle obesity in including Green Prescription (GRx) and Active Families.
For more obesity related data from the Ministry of Health click here.
For more information about resources for healthy living see:
Healthy Families Invercargill - Home
Green Prescription - Otago & Southland | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Good food & active living | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Healthy Lifestyle Groups » WellSouth
To access a BMI calculator click here
Overweight and obese children
This indicator looks at:
- the number of tamariki/children in Southern who overweight or obese,* with a BMI* equivalent to an adult BMI of 25.0 (or greater).
- those obese tamariki who were offered a referral for assessment and family support at the B4School check.
Why is this important?
- Keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of becoming unwell in the future and lessens the chance tamariki might suffer from social and mental health problems because of their weight.
- Overweight and obese tamariki are more likely to be obese as adults, which increases their chance of experiencing ill health in the future.
- Early help for overweight and obese tamariki and their whānau may help prevent further weight gain.
What does this picture show?
- Over time, the percentage of overweight and obese tamariki has generally stayed between 20% (1 in 5) and 40% (4 in 10).
- The percentages of overweight and obese tamariki in Southern is similar to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
What does this picture show?
- The trend referrals for tamariki found to be obese at their B4 School Check. Obese tamariki should be offered a referral for family based programmes to help with healthy eating and activity.
- From 2015, the percentage of obese tamariki receiving referrals has gone up. In 2020, about 85% (85 of 100) tamariki were offered a referral. Although this is lower than the target of 95% (95 of 100), it reflects an improvement in appropriate referrals.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Similar to the trend seen across wider Aotearoa/New Zealand, nearly one third of Southern children are overweight or obese.
- Supporting tamariki to achieve healthier body weight through improved nutrition and physical activity levels is fundamental to improving their health and well-being.
- Southern has continued investing in a number of programmes to tackle obesity in including Green Prescription (GRx) and Active Families.
For more obesity related data from the Ministry of Health click here.
A promising report from the National Science Challenges suggests that obesity among children in Aotearoa is declining.
For more information about resources for healthy living see:
Healthy Families Invercargill - Home
Green Prescription - Otago & Southland | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Good food & active living | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Healthy Lifestyle Groups » WellSouth
To access a BMI calculator click here
Physical Activity
This indicator looks at the physical activity of Southerners.
Adults were considered physically active if:
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they did at least 150 minutes of physical activity in a week and on at least five of those seven days, they did 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity.
For children/tamariki, aged 5 – 14 years:
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the indicator looks at active transport to and from school. Active Transport is considered walking, biking or using any non-motorised forms of transport such as scooters or skateboards.
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Active transport is a good way to get exercise and can be used as a marker for overall physical activity in children.
Why is this important?
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Keeping physically active is important for health and wellbeing. Combined with a good diet, exercise can help prevent a number of long term health problems and benefit current health problems.
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If children develop a regular pattern of physical activity and healthy diet while young this can help them stay in good health throughout their lives.
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No matter how old, a person can get benefits from physical activity.
What do these pictures show?
Adults
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Over time, physical activity among adults in Southern has decreased a bit from 63% to 57%. In general, the percentage of Southerner’s who were physically active was slightly more than the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
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There is variation in adult physical activity across ethnic groups in Southern; between 2017 and 2020, Asian populations tended to be the most active.
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Generally in Southern, those living in more deprived areas are less likely to meet the physical activity recommendations than those in less deprived areas.
Tamariki/Children
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For many years, just under half of Southern tamariki used active transport to get to and from school. This is similar to the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
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There is variation in active transport across ethnic groups in Southern. Māori tamariki tend use more active transport than other groups.
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Generally in Southern, tamariki living in more deprived areas are more likely to use active transport compared to those living in less deprived areas.
What does this mean for Southern?
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Physical activity in all age groups can prevent medical problems and help people live longer healthier lives.
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In general, Southerners are not meeting the recommended activity guidelines.
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There are a number of resources and programmes available across the Southern district to help get all our whanau more active.
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See:
Good food & active living | Southern Health | He hauora, he kuru pounamu
Movewell | Sport New Zealand - Ihi Aotearoa (sportnz.org.nz)
Smoking
Current Smokers & Brief Advice and Support to Quit
This indicator looks at those aged 15 years and older who stated they were current smokers* and those who were offered brief advice and support to quit* smoking in a primary care or hospital setting.
Why is this important?
- Smoking is related to many health problems for the smoker, their friends and their whānau.
- Half of long-term smokers will die from a smoking related health problem.
- Evidence shows that giving individuals who smoke brief advice on ways to stop smoking increases their chances of doing so, especially if medication and/or support to quit are also provided.
- Stopping smoking can quickly start to improve a person’s health. Long term, a lot of the damage caused by smoking can be reversed if a person continues to not smoke
What do these pictures show?
- The number of Southerners who smoke has gone up and down a little bit between 2015 and 2019. Overall, there has not been much change in that time.
- In 2019, about 14% or (14 of 100) Southerners reported being current smokers.
- The number of current smokers receiving advice and support to quit smoking via primary care has been going up.
- In 2021, about 86% or (86 of 100) smokers received brief advice and support to quit smoking. This is change from 2016, when less than 50% (50 out of 100) smokers were receiving quit smoking advice and support from primary care.
- The number of current smokers receiving advice and support to quit smoking via hospital staff has been going down overall.
- In 2016, about 91% or (91 of 100) smokers received brief advice and support to quit smoking. In 2021, about 84% or (84 of 100) smokers were receiving quit smoking advice and support from hospital staff.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Aotearoa/New Zealand has set a goal that less than 5% or (5 out of 100) New Zealanders will smoke by 2025. Smokefree Aotearoa 2025
- Southern is not meeting the quit smoking advice and support targets. Advice and support to quit smoking targets are:
- 90% (90 out of 100) for primary care.
- 95% or (95 of 100) for hospital patients.
- Most smokers want to quit. Continuing to increase the number of smokers offered quit smoking advice and support will help Aotearoa/New Zealand reach the Smokefree by 2025 goal.
It is never too late to quit. If you would like help to stop smoking – click here.
Smoking and Pregnancy
This indicator looks at pregnant women who are current smokers* when they sign-up with their midwife or Lead Maternity Carer* (LMC).
Why is this important?
- Women who smoke when pregnant have a higher chance of having a health problem during the pregnancy that affects them or the pēpē/baby. This includes miscarriage and stillbirth.
- Pēpē/Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy have a higher risk of health problems such as:
- Low birth weight.
- Lung infections, asthma or glue ear.
- Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)* also known as cot death. Ministry of Health NZ
- Supporting pregnant women and their whānau to stop smoking can improve the health for mothers, pēpē/baby and other whānau.
What do these pictures show?
- Between 2008 and 2021, the number of women who were smokers when they registered with their LMC has gone down slightly.
- Approximately 15% (15 out of 100) in 2008 and approximately 11% (11 out of 100) in 2021.
- Between 2008 and 2021, Southern had slightly more smokers during early pregnancy compared with the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The Te Whatu Ora Southern recognises that the number of pregnant women who smoke is too high.
- There are programmes in place to ask all pregnant women about smoking, offer quit smoking advice and help women to quit when they are ready.
- Understanding the patterns about who smokes in Southern is important to support women and their whānau to protect their health and the health of their pēpē.
It is never too late to quit. If you would like help to stop smoking – click here
Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs in pregnancy | Ministry of Health NZ
My Pregnancy | Mokopuna Ora: Healthy Pregnancy & Baby
Vaping and pregnancy | Vaping Facts
Socio-economic status
This indicator looks at socioeconomic status. It relates to access to things like income, employment, housing, education, and transportation. The New Zealand Deprivation Index* is one way of measuring socioeconomic status from least deprived (most affluent/wealthy) to most deprived.
Why is this important?
- Deprivation is closely related to health and wellbeing. Higher levels of deprivation are linked with poorer health and wellbeing.
- Knowledge of where the most deprived areas are can help future health service planning, including funding, advocacy and resources. Otago.ac.nz
What do these pictures show?
- Deprivation is ranked from 1, the least deprived to 10, the most deprived.
- Deprivation in the Southern District’s territorial local authorities* varies:
- The area with the most deprivation (9 and 10 rankings) is Waihōpai/Invercargill City.
- The area with the least deprivation (1 ranking) is Tāhuna/Queenstown-Lakes.
What does this mean for Southern?
- The Southern district is one of the least deprived districts in Aotearoa/New Zealand overall.
- Despite a low deprivation overall, deprivation varies across the Southern district.
- There are many areas in Southern that are in the top three most deprived areas. This is an important consideration when planning health services, to try and equal out the gaps in health.
For additional deprivation information in Southern and Aotearoa/New Zealand see:
Southern District Health Board 2018 New Zealand Index of Multiple Deprivation - Report
NZ Index of Multiple Deprivation – Searchable map.
Searchable map - New Zealand Index of Deprivation - 2018
Socioeconomic Deprivation Indexes: NZDep and NZiDep, Health Inequalities Research Programme
Te reo Māori
This indicator looks at people speaking te reo Māori* which is closely linked to how whānau connect to their communities, te ao Māori and tikanga.
Why is this important?
- Te reo Māori is recognised as an official language, a taonga (treasure) for Aotearoa/New Zealand. Te reo Māori
- Speaking te reo Māori is a way to keep connected to culture. Language is an important part of culture and linked to health and wellbeing.
- Language helps people communicate which is an essential part of healthcare.
- Good communication helps people make informed decisions about their health.
What does this picture show?
- About 12% (or 3 of 25) Māori living in Southern report being able to speak te reo Māori very well or fairly well.
What does this picture show?
- About 13% (or 13 of 100) Māori living in the Southern region can have a conversation* in te reo Māori compared with about 2% or about 1 in 50 of non-Māori.
- Southern has slightly fewer people who can have a conversation in te reo Māori compared with the rest of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Understanding languages spoken within our population is important for:
- empowering our communities to make informed decisions about their health.
- supporting people to maintain cultural connections which are key part of good health.
- health service planning and delivery.
- supporting the cultural safety of the health workforce.
Visit te Wiki o te Reo Maori website for ways to give learning te reo Māori a go.
Te Taura Whiri - Maori Language Commission
Supported living and Job Seeker
This indicator looks at working-age Southerners receiving job seeker support or a supported living payment.
The job seeker payment is for unemployed people who are looking for work. The supported living payment is for people who have or are caring for someone with a health condition, injury or disability.
Why is this important?
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Understanding how many people receive a benefit gives an indication of unemployment and household income in a population.
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Unemployment can be associated with negative effects on physical and mental health.
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Meaningful work is often associated with wellbeing.
What do these pictures show?
- The percentage of adults receiving a job seekers benefit has gone up and down a bit overtime, but has been around 3-5% (3-5 out of 100) Southerners for several years. This is slightly lower than the Aotearoa/New Zealand overall.
- Some of the increase in job seekers during 2020 & 2021 may have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The number of people receiving a supported living payment has gone up a bit for most TLAs since 2015.
What does this mean for Southern?
- Overall, Southern has relatively low numbers of unemployment.
- Employment can be an important predictor of health; it is important that health planners understanding the patterns of social assistance.
- It is important that whānau /families and carers receive continued support.
For information on getting back to work see:
Work and Income
Getting back to work after an injury (acc.co.nz)