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The National Immunisation Register (NIR), which is derived from general practice management systems, is an important tool for the provision of clinical services, national immunisation programme evaluation and immunisation research in New Zealand. However, the accuracy of the NIR data has not yet been quantified. This study aimed to examine, describe and quantify the extent of discrepancy in the NIR compared to Well Child Tamariki Ora parent-held health record books (Health Books).Immunisation data for vaccinations given between birth and four years old for children born between 2006 and 2019 were compared between the Health Books and the NIR. Health Book records were used as the reference standard to calculate performance measures: sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the NIR.Overall, NIR performance was high: sensitivity ranged from 90% to 93%, specificity from 78% to 85%, the positive predictive value from 91% to 94% and the negative predictive value from 77% to 84%. NIR performance was higher for National Immunisation Schedule (NIS) vaccines compared with non-NIS vaccines.This study indicates the NIR data accuracy generally performs well compared with international equivalents, especially for NIS vaccine records. Further work is required to ascertain why discrepancies between the Health Books and NIR continue to occur, with particular attention to important subgroups and translating records across from migrant populations. Also, future work is required to understand the accuracy of vaccination records for groups who experience lower-quality healthcare and a higher burden of infectious diseases.

Effective national immunisation programmes require a high proportion of the population to be immunised. Although New Zealand has made significant progress towards immunisation goals over the last two decades, immunisation coverage remains inadequate to prevent intermittent outbreaks of disease, and immunisation inequities persist between geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Here we summarise a recent literature review that was conducted to identify and examine key factors that influence immunisation coverage, timeliness of vaccinations and the core drivers that affect vaccine uptake. We conclude that well designed systems, taking a holistic approach with multiple components, gain broader community acceptance and trust; early and continual engagement with well-informed healthcare professionals builds trust and improves uptake; the family's experience during vaccination events is important; community-led vaccine advocacy is required to target specific populations to help to promote and improve access to immunisation. Coercive approaches can be marginally effective, but risk disproportionately penalising those already experiencing mistrust and hardship.

Excellent health research is essential for good health outcomes, services and systems. Health research should also build towards equity and in doing so ensure that no one is left behind. As recipients of government funding, researchers are increasingly required to demonstrate an understanding of their delegated responsibilities to undertake research that has the potential to address Māori health needs and priorities. These requirements form the basis of responsiveness to Māori in health research, and several research institutions have implemented systems to support their organisational approach to this endeavour. However, many health researchers have a narrow view of responsiveness to Māori and how it might be relevant to their work. In this viewpoint paper we provide an overview of existing frameworks that can be used to develop thinking and positioning in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi and responsiveness to Māori. We also describe an equity-based approach to responsiveness to Māori and highlight four key areas that require careful consideration, namely: (1) relevance to Māori; (2) Māori as participants; (3) promoting the Māori voice, and; (4) human tissue. Finally, we argue for greater engagement with responsiveness to Māori activities as part of our commitment to achieving equitable health outcomes.