The 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic in New Zealand was a truly terrible and tragic event. It robbed New Zealand of valuable lives and caused plenty of grief.
It's not clear what caused the virus to develop in the first place, though it's believed to have originated form North America. The influenza virus struck New Zealand in two waves; the first wave, which hit New Zealand in September, and the second wave, which hit New Zealand in late October/ early November. The second wave of the influenza was far more deadly than the first and was the major contributor of thousands of deaths--it was estimated that one third of all New Zealanders caught the disease (with the number of fatalities estimated to be between 6500-8600 people). (15).
The New Zealand response to the influenza virus was consistent. It mainly involved the closing of public facilities and the formation of volunteer groups. The government and hospitals tried to ensure that medicine and medical attention were given to everyone who needed it, yet the hospitals were understaffed, making the job harder.
The 1918 Spanish Influenza managed to maintain it's mark on New Zealand society. This was largely due to the construction of memorials and graves, that remain to this day, and the creation of a new and improved Health Act. These impacts were, and still are, greatly significant to New Zealand Society.