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Story: Death rates and life expectancy

Smallpox vaccination certificate

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Smallpox vaccination certificate

During the 1913 smallpox epidemic, Māori were required to present a certificate to confirm they had been vaccinated before they could travel by train. This was one of the public health measures introduced to contain the disease.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: R 3 Acc W2334 box 13 item 1913 3819 Certificate

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Ian Pool, Death rates and life expectancy – Māori epidemiological transition, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/26607/smallpox-vaccination-certificate (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian Pool, published 19 April 2011.