A national strategy won't reduce Maori suicide rates

A national strategy isn't the solution to reducing the number of Maori taking their own lives. That's the opinion of Tuta Ngarimu, who's the manager of the Nati for Life trust suicide support group in Gisborne. Our record suicide rate has continued its climb - figures released yesterday revealed 685 people died by suicide in the past year - that's 17 more than the year before. For Maori there's been an increase of 19 percent on the previous year, with 169 Maori people taking their own life. Mr Ngarimu told our producer Lydia Batham it matches what he's seeing on the ground.