Health and welfare

Crèches and early childcare

Crèches and early childcare

The first crèches in New Zealand were established in latter half of the 19th century to provide childcare services for working mothers, enabling them to provide for their families without giving up their children into private care. more...

Baby farmers

Baby farmers

Baby farmers were paid caregivers who neglected children in their care or even deliberately murdered them. The most notorious was Minnie Dean, the only woman to be hanged for murder in New Zealand. more...

State housing

State housing

How and why, for more than a century, the state has provided rental homes for the tens of thousands of New Zealanders unable to afford a home of their own. more...

The 1918 influenza pandemic

The 1918 influenza pandemic

They called it 'Black November'. What really happened in 1918 when more than 8000 New Zealanders perished during a lethal flu pandemic? more...