The Medical Officer of Health in Te Tairawhiti is commending the work of local Maori health providers in helping improve immunisation rates among Maori.
Ministry of Health data shows immunisation figures for Maori are now better than rates for non-Maori at more than half of the country's district health boards.
The latest national figures show 90% of Maori children were fully immunised by age two, compared to only 59% in 2007.
Tairawhiti DHB does even better, with 94% of Maori under two year olds immunised.
Medical Officer of Health Geoff Cramp says there's been a lot of work towards this in primary care, including efforts by organisations such as Ngati Porou Hauora, Turanga Health and Plunket.
Dr Cramp says it's been a team effort and he believes people now understand that immunisation is effective in preventing children from becoming ill.
