The authors used data collected by New Zealand general practices to assess the impact of ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation on utilisation of general practice consultations. The mean number of consultations with GPs was 3.7. Consultation rates for Mäori, Pacific, Asian and other unspecified ethnicities were similar or lower than those amongst Europeans after adjustment for age, gender and socioeconomic deprivation. Rates of GP consultations increased with increasing deprivation, and were 30% greater in the most deprived groups, compared to the least deprived. In contrast, rates of consultations with nurses were 29% lower in the most deprived groups. Results for consultation rates amongst children under the age of 6 (for whom higher subsidies are available) suggested that cost may be a barrier to access for other age-groups. In summary, the correlation between increasing utilisation of GP consultations and increasing socioeconomic deprivation reflects an increase in need. However given that Mäori health status is lower than that of European New Zealanders, the similar rate of service utilisation in the two groups should be a cause for concern
