Year: 1993 Source: New Zealand Medical Journal, v.106, no.967, (November 10, 1993), p.463-465 SIEC No: 19940184

National data on firearm deaths for 1978-87 were abstracted to identify all deaths categorized as unintentional, suicide, homicide, & undetermined intent. Over this period, there were an average of 91 firearm deaths annually, accounting for 0.3% of all deaths. Suicides accounted for 75.5% of these deaths. While deaths from firearms are not a major public health problem in New Zealand, there is still a need to identify strategies likely to lead to reductions in the current levels. (11 refs.)