Hazardous substances-related deaths reported to the coroner in New Zealand

This section presents information on deaths due to hazardous substances in New Zealand from 2007–21.  The data comes from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) and only include deaths where the coroner has completed the investigation.

Deaths from hazardous substances are often preventable

Every year, people in New Zealand continue to die from exposure to hazardous substances. Common exposures include inhalation of carbon monoxide, huffing of butane [2], and exposure to pesticides, solvents, cleaning agents and paints. These deaths are often preventable [1].  

Key facts from 2023

1. Motor vehicle exhaust and other carbon monoxide sources caused half '37' of all unintentional hazardous substances deaths from 2007–21.

2. Toluene was the third most common substance causing unintentional deaths from 2016–21 but was less common prior to this.

3. Following restricted access to butane in 2013, there has been a marked decline in unintentional deaths from huffing among teenagers and individuals under the age of 30.

4. Carbon monoxide, predominantly from motor vehicle exhaust, caused seven times as many intentional deaths as all other hazardous substances combined from 2007–21.

Information about the data

The data presented in this Surveillance report were extracted from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) on 19 July 2023. The organisation source of the data is the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety.