This study sought to determine 28-day and 1-year case fatality among all New Zealand residents hospitalised with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) between 2007 and 2009 (n=42,920), who were followed for 1 year using individual patient linkage of national hospitalisation and mortality datasets. Case fatality increased steeply with age. In Cox-proportional hazards analysis, Māori and Pacific people had 1.5 times the risk of 28-day, and twice the risk of 1-year, mortality as Europeans/ Others. Compared with having a high socioeconomic status (SES), having a low SES was associated with significantly higher mortality at 28 days (but not 1 year). Patients with unstable angina had half the risk of short-term mortality as non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients, whereas STEMI patients had double the NSTEMI risk.