Kevin Dew is Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. He is the author of Borderland Practices: Regulating Alternative Therapies in New Zealand (2003). With Peter Davis he has edited Health and Society in Aotearoa/New Zealand (2nd edn 2006) and with Allison Kirkman co-authored Sociology of Health in New Zealand (2002). Anna Matheson is a PhD student in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington.

1 Health, justice and politics editors; 2 What is driving the disparities? Bridget Robson, Te Ropu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare' 3 Socioeconomic inequalities in health- Sarah Hill, Public Health, Otago/Wellington; 4 Diversity and equity for Maori - Chris Cunningham, Research Centre for Maori Health and Development, Massey; 5 Politics of health care: An historical perspective - Michael Belgrave, Social & Cultural Studies, Massey; 6 Discourse, media and health in Aotearoa - Tim McCreanor, Te Ropu Whariki, Massey; 7 Does poverty affect health? Brian Easton, independent economist; 8 Child poverty and family incomes in New Zealand - Susan St John, Economics, Auckland; 9 Health inequalities and need associated with rare diseases - John Forman, NZ Organisation for Rare Disorders; 10 Why are we weighting? Equity considerations in primary health care resource allocation - Peter Crampton, Dean, and Jon Foley, Otago/Wellington; 11 The promise of primary health care - Julia Carr & Lee Tan, Capital & Coast District Health Board; 12 Reducing health inequalities by improving housing - Philippa Howden-Chapman, Housing and Health Research Programme, and Sarah Bierre, Public Health, Otago/Wellington; 13 Tools for health equity - Louise Signal, Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, Otago/Wellington; 14 The Otara health story Olivia James, Otara Health Incorporated; 15 Stories from people working with high-needs populations - Win Bennett, Eugene Ryder, Maude Governor, Kathy James, Maggie Simcox, Leanne Ormsby; Notes; References; Index