New figures from the Accident Compensation Corporation show the rate of workplace injuries has been falling since 2002.
Statistics New Zealand, which reported on the figures, says the total number of injury claims fell between 2007 and 2012, and the rate per capita fell for a decade.
In the latest information, the department says 180,000 claims were made for work-related injuries in 2012.
The agricultural and fishery sectors remain the riskiest places to work.
Pacific people were the most likely to be injured at work, ahead of Maori, European and Asian in that order.
