1918 Flu Pandemic
It is over 100 years since New Zealand suffered its worst disease outbreak killing around 9000 people nationwide. Between October and December of 1918, New Zealand lost about half as many people as it had during the whole of the First World War. This event is covered in detail on the New Zealand History website.
There are a series of books written on this event such as the one written by historian Geoffrey Rice’s "Black November". He and other groups are currently working on building a comprehensive list of all of the victims involved. One such group is Discover Waikumete Cemetery.
Waikumete Cemetery is the largest cemetery in New Zealand and has more than 1000 known Auckland victims. "Discover Waikumete" have identified the burial sites of 465 people but continue to work to identify further victims. They have asked for help with this task. This is where the NZSG can put on its "community" hat and work alongside another kindred organisation to achieve a positive outcome.
Discover Waikumete Cemetery, having already found our cemetery transcriptions for this cemetery to be of great assistance, arranged for us to publish their list on our website so that our members have an opportunity to verify information or to add missing names.
View the Discover Waikumete latest list below.
If you feel you can assist in this task, please contact our Project Coordinator at nzsg.projects@genealogy.org.nz.
09/05/2023