The New Zealand Maori Council says the fact that Māori  have the highest single per head of population suicide rate in the country and around the world is not a first they want.

Council chair Matthew Tukaki says we need a national workforce development strategy and more people responding to the problem.

"We need to have a honest conversation about the reforms required of the mental health care system and provision of service."

Mr Tukaki thinks there also needs to be a honest conversation about where the money is spent and why the money is being spent.

"There are more than 20 district health boards across the country and each one of them have experienced an increase in the rate of suicide over the last 10 years. But for some reason people who are exiting the health system are still taking their lives ".