A release of vaccination data by suburb has revealed the least vaccinated area in each of New Zealand's 20 District Health Boards (DHBs).
Within the data set, each DHB is broken down into what is known as an SA2 (Statistical Area 2), like suburbs of a particular region. The first dose and second dose uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is then presented for each of those suburbs.
The data has been released as the Government attempts to drive up vaccination rates ahead of a National Day of Action for vaccinations on October 16. Recognising which areas have low vaccination rates is intended to help community leaders, politicians and health professionals understand where their efforts should be targeted as we try to get as much of Aotearoa vaccinated as possible.
The suburb-by-suburb breakdown also shows which areas are lagging behind the national count. As of Thursday, of the eligible 12+ population nationwide, 51 percent were fully vaccinated, while 80 percent had had their first dose.
Here are the least vaccinated suburbs by DHB, moving southwards (populations reflect eligible people):
Northland: The Whangārei suburb of Otangarei is the least vaccinated in Northland on both first and second dose uptake. According to the Ministry of Health data, 45 percent of its 1692 eligible population has had the first dose and 25.9 percent has had the second. Waimea Forest, south of Omanaia, has 45.1 percent first dose vaccinated and 27.6 percent second dose, while Mataraua Forest has 51 percent first dose vaccinated, but just 26.9 percent second dose.
Waitematā: In this DHB, when ranking by first dose uptake, the Kaipara Hills suburb is the least vaccinated, with 68.4 percent of its 1677 people having had the first dose and 35.7 percent having their second. Westgate Central has the lowest second dose uptake, though it only has a population of 28 people.
Auckland: Barrier Islands is the least vaccinated suburb in the Auckland DHB on first doses, with 68.9 percent of its 836 population having had their first doses and 58.7 percent having their second. That second dose percentage is relatively high, however. Point England is the least vaccinated on second doses in Auckland, with 42.1 percent.
Counties Manukau: On first doses, Ōtara West is the least vaccinated in this DHB. The data shows 62 percent of the 2755 people have had their first dose and 36 percent their second dose. It's followed by Ferguson, with 63.9 percent first dose and 34.9 percent second dose, the lowest second dose count in the DHB.
Bay of Plenty: This DHB is home to the lowest vaccinated community in New Zealand - Murupara. On first doses, 32.6 percent of its 1389 people have had their first dose and 16.1 percent are fully vaccinated. Murupara is well behind many other areas in Bay of Plenty, with most above 60 percent first dose.
Waikato: Taumarunui East is the least vaccinated first dose area in Waikato, with 52.3 percent of its 1297 people having been jabbed once and 33.1 percent having had their second dose. Ranking the DHB's suburbs by second dose, Rotongata - between Te Awamutu and Putāruru - comes in last with 67.9 percent first dose vaccinated but with just 25.3 percent of the community being fully vaccinated.
Lakes: In this DHB, Fordlands has the least uptake in first doses. Of its 1860 people, 50.9 percent have had one jab and 31.6 percent have had two. The relatively small communities of Rangitaiki and Arahiwi are the least fully vaccinated, while just 28.9 percent of Golden Springs' 1270 people have had two doses.
Taranaki: Ranking the DHB by first dose, Waitara West is the least vaccinated with 53.8 percent of its 3307 people having been jabbed once and 30.8 percent being fully vaccinated. On second doses, excluding the tiny area of Port Taranaki, Whangamomona is currently coming last with 18.6 percent fully vaccinated.
Hawke's Bay: Here, Flaxmere West is the least vaccinated on first doses (51.8 percent), with 29.9 percent having had two shots. Maraenui is the least fully vaccinated (29.4 percent).
Whanganui: Raetihi is the least vaccinated community in this DHB, with 46.8 percent having had one dose and 27.3 percent having had two doses.
MidCentral: While far higher than the least vaccinated suburbs in many other DHBs, Shannon has had the lowest first dose uptake in MidCentral. Of its 1194 people, 60 percent have had their first dose and 32.6 percent have had their second. Ranked by second dose, Kaitawa is the least fully vaccinated with a 27.5 percent second dose uptake.
Hutt Valley: Delaney has the lowest uptake of first doses in this DHB, with 66.3 percent of its eligible population having received their first dose and 35.8 percent having their second. Naenae South is falling behind on second doses, with 69 percent of its population having had their first dose, but just 34.9 percent being fully vaccinated.
Wairarapa: Of McJorrow Park's 1349 people, 57.4 percent have had their first dose and 36.7 percent have had their second. That makes it Wairarapa's least vaccinated suburb.
Capital and Coast: Finishing off the North Island, Capital and Coast DHB's Waitangirua community has the lowest first dose uptake with 63 percent. Of this area's 3472 people, 35.3 percent are fully vaccinated. Mount Cook East had the lowest second dose uptake here, with 34.6 percent despite a large 87.4 percent having had their first dose.
Nelson Marlborough: Nelson Airport is the least vaccinated community here, with 56.5 percent of its eligible population having had their first dose and 29.4 percent having their second. However, it only had 85 people. Tākaka Hills has the next lowest first dose uptake (63.1 percent), while Golden Downs has the next lowest second dose uptake (38.8 percent).
West Coast: The least vaccinated suburb here is Lake Brunner with 47 percent of its 589 people having had their first dose and 28.7 percent having had their second dose.
Canterbury: Aranui is Canterbury's least vaccinated community on first doses. Of its 3483 people, 55 percent have been jabbed once and 29.8 percent have had their second. When looking at second doses, Ealing-Lowcliffe is the least vaccinated with 24 percent despite a chunky 74.6 percent having had their first.
South Canterbury: The small community of Ben McLeod is the least vaccinated here with 69.6 percent of its 125 people having had their first dose and 31.2 percent having had their second. Of Lyalldale's 584 people, 71.2 percent have had their first dose and 44.5 percent have had their second. Mackenzie Lakes follows Ben McLeod as the next least fully vaccinated area. Of its 865 people, 75.3 percent have had their first dose, but just 32.3 percent their second.
Southern: Finally, in the southern-most DHB, Ohai-Nightcaps has the lowest first dose uptake (62.6 percent), with 36.8 percent of its eligible population fully vaccinated. Despite a large 81.8 percent of its 44 people having had their first dose, Fiordland has the lowest second dose uptake here, at just 29.5 percent.
The Ministry of Health says some areas have had their data suppressed for privacy reasons. Records that can't be matched to a location are not shown on the maps and are listed in the dataset as 'unknown'.
