SITE MAP | EARTHQUAKES | MISSING PERSONS | WEATHER | VACCINATION | PERIODICALS | FIRES
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z SHIPS
Vaccination Chronology
1845 ... .. William WILLIAMS recorded fears of smallpox
among the Patutahi Maori. It was a false
alarm, but he seized the opportunity to
vaccinate the 'whole population in this
quarter'. (14)
1848 ... .. John FITZGERALD, Wellington Hospital's
first medical superintendent, circularized
Maori on the importance of vaccination. (14)
1848 Sep 14 Announcement on smallpox vaccination plans for
Maori written by A. S. THOMPSON. (1)
1849 ... .. Peter WILSON, New Plymouth's colonial surgeon,
complained that the indiscreet publication in
Maori of a booklet on smallpox had occasioned
near panic among Taranaki Maori, and that local
doctors were swamped with demands for
vaccination. (14)
1851 ... .. There were reports of smallpox at East Cape.
William COLENSO, a CMS worker, asked crown
land purchase agent Donald McLEAN for assistance
in obtaining vaccine. (14)
1851 Nov .. William PURDIE reported the arrival of fresh
vaccine and the Otago Witness urged parents
to take advantage of his offer of free
vaccination. (14)
1854 ... .. Vaccination Report. (3)
1854 Dec .. The Colonial Government established a Central
Board of Vaccination for the Aboriginals of
New Zealand. This consisted of clergymen and
gentlemen. Only two of the original eight
members were doctors - Arthur THOMSON of the
58th Regiment and John DAVIES, Colonial Surgeon,
local coroner and medical officer to Auckland
Hospital. (14)
1855 ... .. Te korero o te Runanga o Waenganui o te motu Nei,
mo te mahi okaoka, mo te koroputaputa ki, nga iwi
Maori, o Niu Tireni: A short treatise on the
Board's policy on smallpox vaccination prepared
and published by the Central Board of Vaccination.
It was also published in "The Maori messenger" v1
n3 (1 Mar 1855) along with an English version
entitled: Address from the Central Board of
Vaccination to the aboriginal natives of New
Zealand. (2)
1856 ... .. Report: Vaccination of Natives. (5)
1859 ... .. Arthur THOMSON claimed in his "Story of New
Zealand" that two-thirds of the 'natives'
had been vaccinated by that date. (14)
1863 Dec 14 The Vaccination Act, 1863: An Act to extend and
make compulsory the practice of Vaccination.
Children to be vaccinated within six months of
birth. Certificate of successful vaccination to
be given. Registrar of births to register vaccination.
Provincial Governments determine vaccination
districts.(4)
1867 Jun 15 "As there is reason to believe that many of the
poorer classes neglect to have their children
vaccinated, through inability to pay the usual fee,
the Superintendent informs the public, that Dr DAY,
of Vincent street, the appointed Public Vaccinator
for Auckland, will be in attendance every Wednesday,
at ten o'clock, at the Dispensary (Mr WELLSMAN's)
Queen Street, to vaccinate the children of the poor,
without any fee or charge." (20)
1869 Feb .. The Illustrated New Zealand Herald compared
the threat of smallpox to an invasion by some
great naval power, with smallpox cast as a more
terrible and insidious foe than any battleship. (14)
1869 Jun 15 Tue. House of Representatives: Vaccination Act Amendment
Bill. Introduction to the House
1869 Jul 07 Wed. House of Representatives: Vaccination Act Amendment
Bill. Discussion prior to second reading. (16)
1869 Jul 14 Wed. House of Representatives: Vaccination Act Amendment
Bill. This Bill was considered in Committee, progress was
made and reported, and leave obtained to sit again on
Tuesday. (16)
1869 Jul 20 Tue. House of Representatives: Vaccination Act Amendment
Bill. This Bill was further considered in Committee,
progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit
again on Thursday. (15)
1869 Jul 22 Thu. House of Representatives: Vaccination Act Amendment
Bill. This Bill was further considered in Committee,
progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit
again on Wednesday next. (15)
1869 Jul 30 Fri. House of Representatives: Vaccination Act Amendment
Bill. This Bill was further considered in Committee,
progress was made and reported, and leave given to sit
again on Wednesday. (15)
1869 Aug 31 Tue. House of Representatives: The Vaccination Bill (15)
is discharged. (15)
1870 ... .. Report of Public Petitions Committee on the
Vaccination Bill - AJHR 1870 F8
1870 Jun 17 Fri. Legislative Council: Vaccination. Discussion about
the reading of Dr STRATFORD's paper on vaccination
by members of the Council. (17)
1870 Jun 17 Fri. House of Representatives: Vaccination Bill
Mr FOX moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend
the laws relating to vaccination. Leave was granted.
The Bill was brought in, read a first time, ordered
to be printed, and the second reading fixed for
Tuesday. (17)
1870 Jun 21 Tue. House of Representatives: Vaccination Bill
Second Reading (17)
1870 Jun 23 Thu. House of Representatives: Vaccination Bill
On the motion of Mr FOX, it was ordered That the
Select Committee to which the Bill to amend the
laws relating to vaccination stands referred,
shall consist of Mr GILLIES, Mr R. G. WOOD,
Mr KELLY, Sir D. MONRO, Mr COLLINS, Mr RICHMOND,
Mr ROLLESTON and Mr WEBSTER. (17)
1871 Jan 11 Question put to the Auckland Provincial Council
Vaccine Lymph - Dr STRATFORD, pursuant to
notice, asked the Provincial Secretary, What steps
have been taken by the Executive to procure a supply
of genuine vaccine lymph for the use of the
Provincial Vaccinator of the Province of Auckland,
and if they have directed him to use animal or human
vaccine lymph at the choice of the people
operated upon? Mr LUSK answered, The Government have
taken no steps with regard to this question. (21)
1871 Nov 14 The Vaccination Act 1871: An Act to repeal
"The Vaccination Act, 1863" and to make other
provision in lieu thereof. The Registrar of
Births in every district shall keep a book in
which he shall register the certificates received
and a list of unvaccinated children will be sent
to the Public Vaccinator on the 1st Jan and 1st
July.(4)
1871 Dec 21 Vaccination - On motion of Dr NICHOLSON Resolved
That a respectful Address be presented to His Honour the
Superintendant, requesting him to make provision for
Vaccination within the Province, until such time as the
Colonial Government shall have made due provision for the
same; and this Council will appropriate such sum as His
Honor may recommend as being required for this purpose,
provided it do not exceed 200 pound.
Address No. 67 (22)
1872 Mar 01 Places where lymph can be procured; Provincial
hospitals of Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, New
Plymouth, Auckland, Nelson, Picton, Christchurch,
Dunedin, Invercargill and the County hospital of
Hokitika. Also that all persons qualified as
Medical Practitioners in NZ are appointed as Public
Vaccinators under "The Vaccination Act 1871".(8)
1872 Oct 21 The Public Health Act 1872: An Act to amend
the Law relating to Public Health.
1873 May 08 Vaccination Districts Constituted. The boundaries
for each district are stipulated. The appointed
Vaccination Inspectors are the same people who are
the Registrars of Births.(8)
1873 Dec 11 Districts for which Public Vaccinators are appointed
and the places where vaccinations are to be performed.
Under the Public Health Act 1872 (8)
1876 ... .. Public Health Act 1876
1877 Oct 26 The voyage of the ship 'Zealandia' ends in Wellington
with two weeks quarantine on Somes Island after a
smallpox outbreak. (24)
1877-1880 Return of Births, Deaths and Vaccination of Children
from 1877-1880 (13)
1877 1878 1879 1880
1. 16,856 17,770 18,070 19,341
2. 1,103 1,086 1,407 1,299
3. 10,746 11,495 12,384 13,628
1. Number of Births Registered
2. Number of Deaths of Children under Six Months of Age
3. Number of Cases of Successful Vaccination Registered
(Children under fourteen years of age)
1884 Jul 29 Possible introduction of Smallpox from Australia (26)
1884 Aug 04 Napier: "A case of confluent small-pox was landed
from the steamer Waihora on Saturday, and sent to
the hospital. The nature of the disease, suspected
yesterday, was confirmed today, and the man is not
expected to live. He had not been vaccinated. The
Mayor has wired to the Colonial Secretary for
instructions, and also to the Mayors of Auckland
and Gisborne to warn them of the Waihora, and make
arrangements to quarantine. It has been decided to
remove the case to the quarantine station. (27)
1884 Aug 05 Auckland: "On the arrival of the Waihora, Captain
EDDIE was greatly astonished to learn that the
lamp trimmer of the vessel had been sent ashore
at Napier suffering from small-pox, as the man
was treated at Wellington by the chemist for
inflammation of the bowels. Nothing was thought
of MOUATT's illness on board until on the passage
between Wellington and Napier, he was reported as
worse, and was sent ashore without the captain
or passengers suspecting smallpox. On the arrival
here of the Waihora the postmaster instructed the
captain to send the mails to the hulk for
fumigation, and for the vessel to anchor there.
Dr PHILSON, the health officer, proceeded to the
vessel, and after making inquiries, forwarded
results to Wellington, from where replies were
awaited. He instructed Captain EDDIE to destroy
the bedding and bed clothing of MOUATT, and to
thoroughly fumigate the vessel. Dr PHILSON's
opinion is that the vessel will have to go into
quarantine for the full time. The passengers are
in excellent health, and are greatly annoyed
at the turn of events. (28)
Napier: It is considered that no possible danger
of infection can arise from the case of small-pox
landed at Napier from the Waihora, as from the
first the case was considered a very suspicious
one and was rigorously isolated. Stringent
quarantine precautions have been taken; and the
patient, with the doctor, attendants, and all
necessary medicine and other supplies, have been
sent to the quarantine station, and a cordon of
sentries placed round to prevent communication
with the rest of the district. The Health Board
met and, under the advice of their medical
officers, made all necessary arrangements for
preventing the spread of the infection. The
patient first felt symptoms of indisposition
shortly before reaching Wellington. (28)
1884 Aug 06 Dunedin: "It is stated that MOUATT, who has the
small-pox at Napier, has a wife and family at
Port Chalmers, and that he spent the night with
them when the Waihora was in port. It is suggested
that the Port Chalmers Corporation should take
the necessary precautions. (29)
1884 Aug 11 Another case in Invercargill (30)
1904 ... .. Smallpox outbreak in Christchurch.(12)
1911 Jan 01 The Smallpox Case: Landed on Quail Island (18)
1911 Jan 17 Quail Island: Strong complaints (19)
1913 ... .. Smallpox epidemic.(13)
1913 ... .. Smallpox epidemic at Bay of Islands (25)
(1) Alexander Turnbull Library (ATL): MS-Papers-1187-082 Smallpox
vaccination plans written by A. S. THOMPSON
(2) ATL: EMI 0418 NIW33 (copy 1) Central board of Vaccination
(Auckland) 1855
(3) Government Report: Committee Session 1 p461
(4) New Zealand Statutes
(5) Appendices to the Journal of the House of Representatives (AJHR)
1856 Section A10
(8) New Zealand Gazette
(12) Te Karanga Aug 1990 v6 n2 p10-11 The Smallpox outbreak in
Christchurch by Mary DRYDEN: Looks at the press coverage of a
smallpox outbreak.
(13) New Zealand Doctor p42 18 Mar 1998 "Student doctors' smallpox
effort" by Dr Charles HERCUS and Dr Wilfrid WALLIS: Reveals the
role of medical students in the public vaccination campaign during
the smallpox epidemic of 1913.
(14) New Zealand Doctor p51; 4 Sep 1996 "Smallpox vaccination
around the country" by Derek DOW. Examines smallpox vaccination
in NZ from 1845 to 1869.
(15) Parliamentary Debates Volume 6 1869
(16) Parliamentary Debates Volume 5 1869
(17) Parliamentary Debates Volume 7 1870
(18) Hawera and Normanby Star Tuesday 3 Jan 1911: "The Smallpox
Case"
(19) Hawera and Normanby Star Wednesday 18 Jan 1911: "Quail
Island: Strong complaints"
(20) Auckland Provincial Government Gazette 1867 p270
(21) Journal of the Auckland Provincial Council 1871
Session XXVI p108
(22) Journal of the Auckland Provincial Council 1871
Session XXVII p72
(23) AJHR 1881 Section H20 Return of Births, Deaths and Vaccination
of Children from 1877-1880 (total numbers only)
(24) Alexander Turnbull Library MS-Papers-0089-03 Diary of Laura
Cotton BARRAUD who records her journey to New Zealand on the ship
'Zealandia' in 1877.
(25) Alexander Turnbull Library MS-Group-0246) Florence Marie
HARSANT (1891-1994): My everyday life as travelling organiser
for Maori women on behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union.
(26) Hawera and Normanby Star Tuesday 29 Jul 1884
(27) Hawera and Normanby Star Monday 4 Aug 1884
(28) Hawera and Normanby Star Tuesday 5 Aug 1884
(29) Hawera and Normanby Star Wednesday 6 Aug 1884
(30) Hawera and Normanby Star Monday 11 Aug 1884