This population-based study combined data from coronial autopsy and four hospital trauma databases to provide age, gender, ethnicity, mechanism, mortality and hospitalisation information for the severely injured in Auckland, New Zealand, for the year 2004. Severe injury was defined as death or injury severity score >15. Māori and Pacific people had increased risk of severe injury and injury-related mortality. A major gender difference was identified: Māori females were at increased risk and Pacific females at decreased risk compared to the remaining female population; both Māori and Pacific males had higher severe injury rates than the remaining population. The relative risk for severe injury (and mortality) for Māori RR 2.38 (RR 2.80) and Pacific RR 1.49 (RR 1.59) was higher than the remaining population, the highest risk (and more statistically significant) was seen in the 15–29-year age group (Māori RR 2.87, Pacific RR 2.57). Road traffic crashes accounted for the greatest proportion of injuries in all groups. Māori had relatively higher rates of hanging and assault-related injury and death; Pacific people had relatively higher rates of falls and assault.
