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In this book, Alistair Woodward and Tony Blakely tell the extraordinary story of life and death in Aotearoa New Zealand from first Māori settlement to the twenty-first century.

Did Maori or Europeans live longer in 1769? Why were Pakeha New Zealanders the healthiest, longest lived people on the face of the globe for eighty years - and why did Maori not enjoy the same life expectancy? Why were New Zealanders' health and longevity surpassed by other nations in the late twentieth century? Through lively text and quantitative analysis, presented in accessible graphics, the authors answer these questions by analysing the impact of nutrition and disease, immigration and unemployment, alcohol and obesity, medicine and vaccination. The result is a powerful argument about why we live and why we die in this country (and what we might do about it). The Healthy Country? is important reading for anyone interested in the story of New Zealanders and a decisive contribution to current debates about health, disease and medicine.

Authors

More about Alistair Woodward and Tony Blakely

Extract

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Reviews

...a powerful argument about why we live and why we die in this country (and what we might do about it). The Healthy Country? is important reading for anyone interested in the story of New Zealanders and a decisive contribution to debates about health, disease and medicine. - Scoop

The question mark in the title is provocative. Are we The Healthy Country? - Sally Blundell, NZ Listener

Otago University’s Tony Blakely and Auckland University’s Alistair Woodward have created a great reference book about the history of  public health in New Zealand. The book covers everything, from our country’s health pre-Cook right through to 2010, and extending into the (healthier?) future. - Kimaya McIntosh, Booksellers NZ