In New Zealand, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality, with coronary artery disease responsible for 23% of all deaths in 1999. Over 52% of these deaths were due to myocardial infarction . Whilst rates of coronary artery disease are thought to be in decline, research has shown that Maori individuals are more likely to die from a myocardial infarction than age stratified European counterparts, with men and women at a 1.6 and 4.2 times increased risk, respectively [3, 4].