Cindy Kiro - Commissioner for Children's address

There have been some good gains over the past few years in respect of injury rates for children and young people, with a "reduction in the infant and under-five mortality rate by at least one third" (UNICEF, Making New Zealand Fit for Children, 2003). Male mortality in the 15-24 age group is related to higher risk of injury (including suicide), and is consistently higher than females rates at all ages (MOH, Our Health, Our Future,1999, P74).

The most common cause of death from injury of children under15 years is drowning. Second most common is road crashes and third most common is road traffic crashes (including pedestrians) (Watson, 2003).

Improvements have been due largely to the efforts of many in injury prevention and health promotion to address non-accidental injury behaviours contributing to high rates. There is also evidence of good initiatives and working relationships within ACC and the health sector.

However, New Zealand still has more to do as we have high rates of child injury mortality compared to other countries. This is evidenced by injury as the leading cause of death for New Zealand children aged 1-17 years of age. Nearly half of these are caused by motor vehicle crashes. There is also considerable inequality in the figures with Maori and Pacific children more likely to die from injury.

These are preventable causes of mortality and morbidity that can further reduce these internationally high rates.

This was highlighted in yet another UNICEF report on maltreatment of children in rich countries released in September 2003, where New Zealand appeared towards the bottom of the table.

The Office of the Commissioner for Children will work with the health, family violence, transport, and injury prevention sector to address these.