This chart, derived from an examination of the coroners' inquests, shows the principal motives for suicide among males in New Zealand in the first half of the 20th century. Illnesses, both mental and physical, were a motive for almost two-fifths of the deaths, and alcohol, often associated with depression and work problems, was also a significant factor.

Source: John Weaver, A sadly troubled history: the meanings of suicide in the modern age. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queens University Press, 2009. p. 155