Wellington, Nov 18 NZPA - Parliament's health select committee is going to hold an inquiry into child immunisation rates.

It said today New Zealand's immunisation rates were far lower than in many other developed and under-developed countries.

"Many New Zealand children suffer measles, whooping cough, pneumonia and other relatively common infectious diseases despite immunisation being available at no charge," the committee said.

"Mortality and is high and could be prevented."

It said there was clear scientific evidence that the benefits of high levels of immunisation outweighed the disadvantages.

Terms of reference for the inquiry include collecting statistics, analysing benefits and disadvantages and recommending what could be done to improve the rate.

The nine-member cross-party committee is chaired by National MP Paul Hutchison.