Local Gratitude

This elegant vase stands as a lasting reminder of the role of volunteers in combating the devastating 1918 Influenza pandemic. The pandemic, which killed almost 8,600 New Zealanders in a matter of months, caused widespread grief and disruption at a time when the country was also dealing with the effects of World War One. It stretched health services and especially in smaller towns it was volunteers who assumed many duties, including serving on health committees, nursing the ill or transporting food and medicine to those in need.