statistics on place of death. During the March 2012 year, the Auckland region had the largest increase in the number of deaths (up 261 to 7,613). Although the Auckland region is home to approximately one-third of New Zealand's population, it only accounted for one-quarter of New Zealand's deaths. This is due to the region's relatively young age structure. The median age of the Auckland region's population is 34 years, compared with 37 years for the national population. There was a decrease in the number of deaths in Canterbury, compared with the March 2011 year. Deaths in Canterbury dropped to 4,348 in 2012 compared with 4,469 in 2011. The 2011 figure for Canterbury includes fatalities that occurred as both direct and indirect results of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. However, the 2012 figure was still higher than in 2010 (4,172). Canterbury residents accounted for 15 percent of all deaths in New Zealand but 13 percent of New Zealand's population. Canterbury's population has an older age structure than New Zealand as a whole. The median age of the Canterbury region's population is 39 years, compared with 37 years for the national population. Infant mortality rate down to 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births During the March 2012 year, the number of infant deaths (under one year of age) registered in New Zealand was 277. In 2012, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 4.6 per 1,000, down from 5.4 in 2002. The infant mortality rate has dropped over