The Ngati Porou Community Injury Prevention Project successfully applied the principles of role modelling, life span focus, accessibility, acceptability and active participation. This is a promising model that could be repeated in other indigenous communities.

Objective-To evaluate the Waitakere Community Injury Prevention Project (WCIPP).Methods-Process and outcome evaluations were conducted over a three year period. Process activities included analysis of project documentation, participant observation, key informant interviews, and two post-implementation case studies. A quasiexperimental design was used for the outcome evaluation. Three primary sources of data were collected and analysed: injury statistics; a pre-post telephone survey (n=4000); and a pre-post organisation survey (n=144). Results-Process evaluation provided a comprehensive account of the operation and activities of the WCIPP. Findings stress the pivotal role of the coordinators and highlight the value of incorporating a multicultural approach. A positive impact on changes to Waitakere City Council safety policies and practices was also evident. Outcome evaluation findings demonstrated significant reductions in rates of Waitakere child injury hospitalisations (p<0.05), while comparison communities showed an increase in child hospitalisation rates. In addition, compared with pre-intervention and comparison data, significantly more Waitakere residents were aware of injury prevention safety messages (p=0.0001) and had acquired appropriate child safety items (p=0.0001). Conclusion-The community injury prevention model appears to be an eVective strategy for injury prevention. The support provided by the council for the WCIPP has provided a benchmark for the role of local governments in injury prevention. (Injury Prevention 2000;6:130-134)

As so little is known about injury prevention initiatives in indigenous populations, the findings presented in this article will provide important information for the future development of other indigenous injury prevention programmes.

Objective: To investigate child restraint/seatbelt use by the indigenous (Maori) population in Northland New Zealand. Method: Observational surveys were conducted at the two main car parks (McDonald's and the largest supermarket) to determine the number of passengers restrained, the type of restraints, and correct use. Observations were restricted to those who were obviously Maori, based upon the local knowledge of the observer. In addition, face to face questionnaires were administered to Maori whanau/caregivers involved in the care of two or more children for more than three days a week. Results: A total of 788 participants were observed. Babies were those most likely to have all occupants restrained correctly (97%), followed by toddlers (66%), adults (56%), and school age children (48%); 138 interviews were conducted. Females (86%) were significantly more likely to ensure that all passengers were restrained on short journeys compared to males (67%; p<0.05). Respondents under 45 (80%) were significantly less likely to restrain child passengers compared to people aged 45 or older (91%; p<0.05). Discussion: This study highlights the problem that larger families in this study had in providing correct child restraints for all their children. I nternationally and in New Zealand, motor vehicle injuries are the leading causes of death for children between the ages 1-14 years.1 2 For adults it is the second highest cause of injury deaths.2 Thirty eight percent of all injury deaths are due to motor vehicle injuries.2 Within New Zealand, the rate of motor vehicle occupant deaths 3 and injuries 4 is higher for Maori (indigenous people of New Zealand) than for nonMaori children aged 1-14 years. Despite 1995 legislation that requires all children 5 years and under to use restraints and all other children to wear seatbelts, 5 levels of use in New Zealand are less than optimal.6 7 Anecdotal evidence suggests that the level of use by Maori is lower than the general population. Recent statistics released by the Land Transport Safety Authority indicate that the Northland region of New Zealand had one of the lowest child restraint wearing rates-69% in comparison with 79% in the general population. 8 This study was based in the Northland region where Maori represented 31% of the population in 1996.9 Many towns have established child car seat rental schemes including three in the Northland town of Kaitaia.The aims of the study were to: (1) describe the level of car restraint use among children and adults in this community and (2) describe attitudes to child restraint/seatbelt usage by Maori, whanau (family). METHODSTwo methods were used. First, observational surveys were used to gain information on the number of passengers in the vehicles, the number of passengers restrained, the type of restraints, and correct use of restraints, as well as the make and age of the vehicle. The passengers were categorised into babies; toddlers, school age children, and adults and the use of age appropriate restraints noted. Observations took place ...

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