Children in poorest areas three times more likely to die

Poverty remains a leading contributor to death in children and young people.

A report has been released by the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee, looking into deaths from 2012 to 2016.

It found vulnerable children living in poverty were three times more likely to die, with possible contributing factors including living in overcrowded houses and the fact their parents could not afford to take them to a doctor.

The report showed there were 483 deaths of children and young people in 2016.

Medical conditions were the main cause of death, including tumours, followed by unintentional injuries and drownings.

All of the intentional deaths in tamariki Māori aged from 10 to 14 were due to suicide, the report said.

The report also found that Māori and Pasifika children and young people were more likely to die compared with other ethnicities.