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Story: City planning

Typhoid map

Conditions deteriorated as towns became cities. Rubbish was dumped in the street and drains became open sewers, encouraging the spread of diseases like typhoid. This map of Te Aro – a working-class district of Wellington – identifies cases of typhoid during outbreaks in 1882 and 1890–91. The contagious nature of the disease is highlighted by the clustering of cases in particular streets. Such outbreaks led public health reformers to call for reticulated drinking water and sewerage systems. Once they were installed, the incidence of such diseases fell dramatically.

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Wellington City Archives

Reference: 00233:34:1892/740 typhoid map

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How to cite this page

Ben Schrader, City planning – Town planning emerges, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/25727/typhoid-map (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ben Schrader, published 3 March 2010, updated 26 March 2015.