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Story: Public health

Sewerage works, Christchurch, early 1880s

The first sewerage system in New Zealand was built in Christchurch. It was completed in 1882. This panorama shows the pumping station in Tuam Street under construction. Improvements such as this led to a major decline in the incidence and spread of some infectious diseases.

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Canterbury Museum

Reference: 19XX.2.799

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Public health – Managing public health, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/31359/sewerage-works-christchurch-early-1880s (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 18 April 2011, reviewed and revised 7 July 2019 with assistance from Richard Edwards.