Fewer people died by suicide in Northland in the year ending in June than the previous 12 months, according to figures released by the chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean.
Twenty-one people took their lives in Northland in the 12-month period, down from 29.
The provisional suicide figure is the same as the number of people who died in road crashes in the region in 2013.
Nationally, the total number of suicides over the year was 529, the lowest number - by two - since the annual coronal figures were first produced in 2007.
In Northland, 144 people died by their own hand in those seven years. Northland District Health Board statistics indicate there were five youth (under 25-years-old) suicides in the last year.
Nationally, youth suicide numbers are considerably down from the previous year - 110 compared with 144.
There is not yet a regional breakdown of the provisional figures released yesterday to show the ages, genders or race of the people who committed suicide - but Northland iwi, youth services and health providers are hopeful measures to counteract an alarming spike in youth suicides, particularly young Maori males, in 2011/2012 are paying off.
Ngati Hine Health Trust general manager Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, who oversees the Raid Movement anti-suicide programme by youth, for youth, said it was positive to see a national trend showing a reduction in young people's suicides. Ms Kapa-King was keen to see if that was reflected locally, but believed there was anecdotal evidence the Raid Movement and other peer-focussed projects were having an impact. The movement came about as a response by young people to a youth problem.
"We support the idea that when young people are provided with the mechanism to support their peers, that's a good idea, that's effective," she said.
In his report Judge MacLean said that while it was encouraging to see a slight drop in numbers, the overall rate was stubbornly high and disappointingly consistent.
"We've seen the lowest number of suicides in the 15 to 19-year-old cohort in the last seven years with 46, which is down 17 on last year and 34 the year before. The drop in teen suicide is good news. These are the some of the toughest and most tragic cases coroners deal with," he said.
"I am aware that a lot of effort both nationally and at community grassroots level has gone into responding to the challenges posed by youth suicide, and I'd like to think the drop is a result of this."
Ms Kapa-Kingi said that in recent years the judge had directly addressed the suicide problem by saying "let's bring it out of the shadows".
Young people working with the Raid Movement aimed to bring intervention, communication, education and support to suicide-risk youth, and were trained, supported and guided by professionals, she said.