This paper details the efficiency and financial performance of New Zealand’s 20 DHBs in terms of achieving life expectancy (LE) gains for their Māori and European populations between 2006 and 2013. Data were analysed from period life tables produced by Statistics New Zealand for each ethnic group in each DHB using the 2006 and 2013 censuses. The data from these tables were combined with mortality data from the periods 2005–07 and 2012–14. The researchers found that the use of LE change is an effective indicator of managerial effectiveness. In all DHBs, LE improved for both Europeans and Māori, but at a greater rate for Māori. LE gains were unrelated to the proportion of Māori in the DHB in 2006 (correlation coefficient r=-0.16; p=0.49). Moreover, the change in Māori life expectancy was not associated with the initial LE in 2006 (r=0.19; p=0.42), suggesting that change was not limited at the upper end of the range. This was also true for Europeans (r=0.31; p=0.19). The efficiency of each DHB ranged from 79% to 100% and was significantly correlated with DHB financial performance.
