New Zealand Health Information Service data were examined for all registrations concerning cutaneous malignant melanoma (n=19,435) from 1994–2004. The incidence of thick melanoma did not decrease during 1994–2004. Significant associations were found between age, gender, ethnic group, type of melanoma, and the thickness of melanoma at diagnosis. Of those diagnosed with melanoma, the proportion with thick melanoma (>3.0 mm) was greater for older than younger people, for males compared with females, for Māori compared with non-Māori (despite the lower incidence in Māori), and for those diagnosed with nodular melanoma compared with other types of melanoma.
