This analysis compared age-specific mortality and life expectancy (at birth) (LE) and adult all-cause mortality rates by sex for the indigenous populations of Australia (from 1990) and New Zealand (from 1950), and for all Australia and non-Māori of New Zealand (from 1890), to 2012–2014 (where data were available in published sources and national statistical agency reports). LE improved for all populations, although the LE gap overall between indigenous Australians and all Australians has not diminished over time. From the first estimates in 1950–1952, LE for Māori initially converged with non-Māori, widened during the 1990s, and have begun to close again since then. Recent LE gaps in Australia (males 12.5; females 12.0 years in 2010–2012) were larger than in New Zealand (males 7.3; females 6.8 years in 2012–2014). Premature adult mortality (15–59 years) improved for all populations, but mortality ratios show little change since 2000, with Indigenous at 3.5–4 times that of all Australians, and Māori 2–3 times that of non-Māori. Using decomposition analysis, the study researchers identified ages 35–59 years as the age interval contributing most strongly to differences in LE between Indigenous and all Australians (2010–2012), whereas it was 60–74 years between Māori and non-Māori (2012–2014).
