A moment in time: Selected results from the 1996-1997 New Zealand health survey

This article presents key results from the 1996-1997 New Zealand Health Sur vey, the second of two nationally representative surveys on the health stat us and health service utilization of New Zealanders. This survey involved a face-to-face interview with 7,862 adults and 1,019 children carried out du ring the period of a year. The survey had an adult response rate of 73.8%. Using the results of this survey, this article highlights some of the major public health issues facing New Zealanders. These issues include smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol use, asthma, and diabetes. The results present ed here show that significant disparities exist between particular demograp hic and socioeconomic groups in New Zealand in relation to both health risk factors and specific chronic diseases. The policy implications of the resu lts are discussed in relation to existing public health strategies and futu re initiatives.