Did Maori or Europeans live longer in 1769? Why were Pakeha New Zealanders the healthiest, longest lived people on the face of the globe for eighty years – and why did Maori not enjoy the same life expectancy? Why were New Zealanders' health and longevity surpassed by other nations in the late twentieth century? Through lively text and quantitative analysis, presented in accessible graphics, the authors answer these questions by analysing the impact of nutrition and disease, immigration and unemployment, alcohol and obesity, medicine and vaccination. The result is a powerful argument about why we live and why we die in this country (and what we might do about it). The Healthy Country? is important reading for anyone interested in the story of New Zealanders and a decisive contribution to current debates about health, disease and medicine.