The COVID-19 infection fatality rate for Māori was estimated to be 50% higher than that of non-Māori based on existing demographic and health data for ethnic groups in New Zealand and international data on COVID-19. The estimated inequity may be higher depending on the relative contributions of age and underlying health conditions included in the analysis. The authors commented that inequities ‘will be exacerbated by racism within the health care system and other inequities not reflected in official data’.