Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of death in New Zealand and imposes a disproportionate burden on Māori, the indigenous population of Aotearoa New Zealand. Analyses of data for Māori:non-Māori disparities in risk factors, hospitalisations, the receipt of related procedures and mortality for IHD (over the years 2000–2005) revealed significant inequalities. IHD hospitalisation rates for Māori are 1.4 times that of non-Māori, however, mortality rates are more than twice that of non-Māori. In recent years, Māori revascularisation rates have increased (as have non-Māori rates) but are still considerably less than might be expected given the much higher mortality rates.
