Story: Death rates and life expectancy

Measles epidemic (2nd of 2)

Measles epidemic

Māori had no initial immunity to the new diseases that arrived with Pākehā settlers, and severe epidemics were common. This 1887 newspaper article describes a deadly outbreak of measles in Taranaki centred on Parihaka . Large hui at which Māori from different places gathered could result in disease spreading over a wide area.

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National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: Evening Post, 4 July 1887, p. 2.

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ian Pool, 'Death rates and life expectancy - Effects of colonisation on Māori', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/26589/measles-epidemic (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Ian Pool, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 14 Mar 2019