Maternal mortality in New Zealand

New Zealand's maternal mortality rate in the triennium 1986-8 was reviewed in comparison with the rates from Australia and the United Kingdom during 1985-7. The New Zealand rate of 9.6 obstetric deaths/100,000 total births was higher than that for the United Kingdom (6.2) and Australia (4.4). Six of 16 deaths in New Zealand during the triennium were caused by sepsis, including five cases of puerperal infection with group A beta-haemolytic streptococci. Careful analysis of maternal deaths in New Zealand remains an important priority to provide audit of the performance of maternity services.