A Short History on Pandemics and Epidemics in New Zealand: March 26th, 2020

Looking back to history, Rachel reports on diseases of New Zealand's past and how they were dealt with by both authorities and everyday people.

We begin with the introduction of smallpox and its disastrous effect on the Māori population, and how travel restrictions and ad-hoc militias were used to control Māori communities.

Then we cover the 1918 influenza outbreak, and how New Zealand dealt with a pandemic when left with skeletal resources after WWII. The influenza outbreak left us with the 1920 Public Health Act, which influenced how New Zealand was to deal with pandemics in the future.

Inspired by a phone conversation with her grandfather, Rachel then covers the polio epidemic - a high-stakes disease that left many people permanently harmed. She examines what life was like during that time, and ends by highlighting the societal optimism surrounding the advent of Jonas Salk discovering the polio vaccine.

Broadcasting from home today, 95bFM wishes you a safe time during the rāhui (lockdown).