1817–20 Influenza reported among Māori on coasts of Foveaux Strait

1835 Measles reported among Māori in South Island whaling stations

1838–39 ‘Rewha-rewha’ (probably influenza) in Bay of Islands and Mercury Bay

1852–53 Influenza widespread

1858 Measles prevalent

1863–64 Scarlet fever in Dunedin: 119 deaths

1872–75 Diphtheria prevalent in Christchurch

1872 Smallpox outbreak in Auckland from SS Nebraska: 7 cases, 3 deaths

1873 Pertussis (whooping cough): 356 deaths across New Zealand

1874 Typhoid at Cromwell: 110 cases, 20 deaths

1874–75 Measles: 344 deaths across New Zealand
Diphtheria: 481 deaths across New Zealand

1875 Typhoid widespread in towns and cities: 323 deaths (worst year)
Tuberculosis: 339 deaths across New Zealand

1876–98 Typhoid deaths average 143 annually across New Zealand

1876–77 Scarlet fever deaths: 834 across New Zealand

1881–82 Measles widespread in Otago and Canterbury: 199 deaths across New
Zealand
Scarlet fever: 257 deaths across New Zealand
Diphtheria in Christchurch: 132 cases, 27 deaths; 216 deaths across New Zealand

1883–84 Typhoid outbreak in Northland
Pertussis widespread: 24 deaths in Auckland, 246 deaths across New
Zealand

1887 Measles in Whanganui

1888 Typhoid in Auckland
Diphtheria: 219 deaths across New Zealand

1890–94 Influenza pandemic: 1,393 deaths registered

1890 Typhoid in Nelson: 48 cases, 5 deaths

1891 Pertussis in Wellington: 24 deaths, 242 deaths across New Zealand

1892 Diphtheria prevalent: 281 deaths across New Zealand (worst year)

1893 Measles in Auckland: 511 deaths across New Zealand
Typhoid in Wellington: 400 cases, 35 deaths

1897–98 Measles outbreak among East Cape Māori

1898–99 Influenza prevalent: 219 deaths across New Zealand; suspected rubella
epidemic

1898–99 Influenza prevalent: 219 deaths across New Zealand; suspected rubella
epidemic

1900–11 Plague in Auckland: 9 deaths

1902–3 Scarlet fever: 209 deaths across New Zealand
Measles: 277 deaths across New Zealan

1907 Pertussis: 307 deaths across New Zealand (last major outbreak)

1911 Typhoid prevalent in Māori districts

1902–3 Scarlet fever: 209 deaths across New Zealand
Measles: 277 deaths across New Zealand

1907 Pertussis: 307 deaths across New Zealand (last major outbreak)

1911 Typhoid prevalent in Māori districts

1913 Smallpox in Northland: 2,000 cases, 55 deaths (last major outbreak in New
Zealand)

1916 Polio: 123 deaths across New Zealand, many in military camps

1917 Diphtheria: 240 deaths across New Zealand

1918 Influenza pandemic: at least 500,000 cases, nearly 9,000 deaths across New
Zealand. European death rate 5.8 per 1,000; Māori death rate nearly 50 per
1,000

1920–21 Measles prevalent

1921–22 Meningitis prevalent

1925 Polio: 175 deaths across New Zealand

1929 Influenza prevalent: 297 deaths across New Zealand

1929–30 Diphtheria prevalent: 150 deaths across New Zealand

1936–37 Typhoid in Māori districts

1937 Polio: 39 deaths

1938 Measles: 163 European deaths, 212 Māori

1939 Suspected rubella epidemic

1941–42 Diphtheria prevalent
Pertussis: 72 deaths across New Zealand

1944–45 Scarlet fever: 40 deaths across New Zealand

1947 Typhoid outbreak at Kaikōura: 78 cases, 3 deaths

1948–49 Polio: 65 deaths across New Zealand

1952–53 Polio: 80 deaths

1955–56 Polio: 79 deaths (last major epidemic)

1959 Tuberculosis cases among Europeans, 4.1 per 10,000; among Māori, 31 per
10,000

1964–65 Rubella epidemic

1971 Hepatitis A: 4,500 cases notified

1972 Measles prevalent

1977–80 Hepatitis A: 1,500 cases notified annually (then declined)

1983–98 HIV/AIDS epidemic: 1,336 cases

1991–2007 Meningococcal B epidemic: 5,244 cases, 252 deaths

1995 Rubella epidemic: 1,600 confirmed cases

1996 Influenza prevalent: 90 deaths

1997 Measles epidemic: 2,000 cases notified, 200 hospitalised

1997–2008 Campylobacteriosis epidemic

1999 Influenza prevalent: over 500 hospitalised

1999–2001 Pertussis epidemic: 6,523 cases notified

2001 Peak of meningococcal group B epidemic: 648 confirmed cases

2003 Influenza prevalent: 600 hospitalised

My friend died from influenz this year

2004–5 Pertussis epidemic: 3,489 cases notified, 159 hospitalised

2009 H1N1 ‘swine flu’ pandemic: 3,150 confirmed cases, 20 deaths

2019 measles in Samoa

2020 COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic

2,078 cases. 25 deaths.