Abstract
Generic rurality classifications in Aotearoa New Zealand lack adequacy for health research & and policy, hindering understanding of rural-urban sociodemographic differences. To address this, we utilize the fit-for-purpose and novel Geographic Classification for Health 2018 Census responses are analysed at the SA2 level to describe and compare sociodemographic characteristics of rural and urban residents at national and regional scales. The rural-urban distribution of socioeconomic deprivation is also examined using NZDep2018. This research establishes a baseline for understanding healthcare needs and sociodemographic changes in Aotearoa's rural and urban communities, including disparities by ethnicity and Te Whatu Ora Health region