These researchers describe substantial ethnic, socioeconomic and geographical inequalities in road traffic injury (RTI) risk in the Auckland region. They analysed rates of RTI deaths and non-fatal hospital admissions using the New Zealand Mortality Collection and the National Minimum Data Set 2000–2008. Poisson regression examined the association of age, gender, prioritised ethnicity and small area deprivation (New Zealand Index of Deprivation) with RTI rates, and RTI rates were mapped for 21 local board areas within the Auckland region. RTI rates increased with levels of deprivation in all age groups, with the steepest gradient among children (9% increase/decile) and adults aged 25–64 years (11% increase/decile). In all age groups, RTI risk was highest among Māori (all ages). Pacific children had an elevated risk of RTI compared with the NZ European/ Other group, but Pacific youth (15–24 years) and adults (25–64 years) had a lower risk. While RTI rates were generally higher for those living in rural local board areas, all but one local board in the southern Auckland urban area had among the highest rates.
