This study determined the incidence of lung cancer, duration of survival and treatment according to ethnicity and socioeconomic status in a health district in New Zealand, using data from 102 patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the period 1997–1999. The incidence of lung cancer was 3–4 times higher among Mäori compared with New Zealand Europeans, while patients from the more socially deprived areas had nearly double the incidence. More than one half of the patients presented with widespread disease; a disproportionate number of those were Mäori and socially disadvantaged. Only 9.8% of cases were considered to be potentially curative. Survival at 1 year was 24% and at 5 years, 6%. No Mäori were alive at 5 years.
