Ethnicity is not a factor in aged care service assessment access, according to an exploratory cohort study of new referrals received by the Waitematā District Health Board (WDHB) in 2018. Referrals for those aged ≥55 years (n = 3263) were ethnically representative of the general older adult population within the WDHB. Compared with non-Māori, non-Pasifika individuals, Māori were younger and were more likely to be referred for higher-level care needs (p = 0.03). There were no significant differences between ethnicities in referral outcome, time to assessment or mortality.