Scientists have proved ethnicity can be isolated, and directly impact peoples' health outcomes

A New Zealand Medical Journal article states a new study tracked the health of New Zealand's population from 2009 to 2018, adjusting for age, sex, deprivation and health conditions.

It found Maori had 43 to 50-percent higher preventable death rates than those of European descent.

Study co-author Professor Sue Crengle says even after taking into account all other variables, ethnicity still makes a difference to amenable mortality.

She says it proves ethnicity must be reconsidered as part of the health response.