Epidemics

New Zealanders have battled Covid-19 for more than two years, but if you think it's the first time disease has knocked us around, well, this one's for you. Epidemics have long been part of our story.

During the Covid-19 pandemic we've heard people say stuff like "we're living in unprecedented times"... But every time they hear that, historians get extremely annoyed! Epidemics have had a huge impact on many countries through history and New Zealand is no exception.

Watch the video version of the episode here

In this episode we dig into the history of epidemics in Aotearoa New Zealand, including:

• Why Māori were relatively free of diseases until European arrival in Aotearoa.
• The factors which helped promote the development of epidemic diseases in Europe and Asia.
• The early impacts of disease on Māori in the 19th century.
• Efforts by colonial authorities to reduce the impacts of disease on Māori, and how these efforts were linked to a goal of "assimilating" Māori into European culture.
• Efforts by Māori to reduce the impact of disease.
• The development of sanitary infrastructure and its impact on epidemic disease.
• The 1918 flu pandemic.
• Polio epidemics in the 20th century.
• The impact of modern medicines, including vaccines.

For more on this subject:

• The Healthy Country? A History of Life and Death in New Zealand by Alistair Woodward and Tony Blakely
• Black November by Geoffrey Rice
• Dirt: Filth and Decay in a New World Arcadia by Pamela Janet Wood
• Epidemics - Te Ara

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details