Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wellington
T 0800 268 787 | [email address]
justice.govt.nz
6 May 2021
Mr M Bell
[FYI request #15120 email]
Tēnā koe Mr Bell
Official Information Act 1982 request
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 9 April 2021. You have requested
the following information:
1. The number of coronial cases where a person has died of pneumonia, by year, as far back
as data is available.
2. The number of coronial cases where a person has died of Influenza (common cold) by year,
as far back as data is available.
In response to your request, please refer to Tables 1, 2 and 3 enclosed. These tables show the number
of deaths recorded where pneumonia, influenza or both have been recorded as the cause of, or
contribution to the cause of death, notified to the Coroner between 1 January 2008 and 31 December
2020. It is important to note that some cases include both pneumonia and influenza as a cause of
death, and therefore the data across both cause of death types in Tables 1 and 2 will not necessarily
add to the total in Table 3.
This information has been provided by calendar year from January 2008. This is the earliest calendar
year for which data can be provided, due to when the Ministry of Justice Coronial Case Management
System became operational.
It is important to note that this information does include active cases which are provisional pending
the Coroner’s final finding. This information is being made available for release on behalf of the Chief
Coroner.
If you require any clarification of the information contained in this response, please contact our Media
and External Relations team by emailing [email address].
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman under
section 28(3) of the OIA. You can contact the Office of the Ombudsman by writing to PO Box 10152,
Wellington 6143; calling 0800 802 602; or emailing [email address].
I trust that this information assists.
Nāku noa, nā
Bruce Findlay
Group Manager, Courts and Tribunals, Regional Service Delivery
Ref:
87259
Encl:
Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3
Table 1: Number of deaths recorded where pneumonia has been recorded as the cause of, or contribution to the cause of death, notified to the Coroner
between 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2020
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Total deaths
201
247
200
217
215
179
192
195
192
214
192
204
143
Table 2: Number of deaths recorded where influenza has been recorded as the cause of, or contribution to the cause of death, notified to the Coroner
between 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2020
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Total deaths
6
35
15
7
10
7
16
8
6
6
10
7
2
Table 3: Number of deaths recorded where pneumonia or influenza has been recorded as the cause of, or contribution to the cause of death, notified to
the Coroner between 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2020
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Total deaths
203
259
206
219
216
181
197
200
196
215
196
208
144
Note: Data across both cause of death types (tables 1 & 2) will not necessarily add to the total (table 3) as some cases include both pneumonia and influenza as a cause of death.
Important notes:
•
This data may differ from previously released or published data. This data was extracted from the Ministry's case management system at 12th April 2021.
•
Cases are included based on the date the case was notified to the coroner (this can differ from the date of death).
•
The closed cases have a cause of death that has been determined by the coroner, where a finding or certificate has been issued.
• This data counts instances where one or more of the keywords is recorded in the Medical Cause of Death 1, Medical Cause of Death 2, Medical Cause of Death 3, Medical Cause of
Death Secondary, Provisional Cause of Death, or Final Cause of Death fields in the Ministry of Justice's case management system.
