Tag Archives: children’s health

This month last century: November 1919

21 November 2012 – 7.40pm

93 years ago the first health camp opens at Turakina (25 November 1919)

New Zealand’s first health camp was founded by Dr Elizabeth Gunn.  The first group of 55 children stayed in tents for three weeks. Gunn had been a military doctor, and brought this experience with her to the running of the camps.

Poster, ’Help promote Health!’, 1930, Wellington. W.A.G. Skinner, Government Printer. Purchased 2001. Te Papa

Poster, ’Help promote Health!’, 1930, Wellington. W.A.G. Skinner, Government Printer. Purchased 2001. Te Papa

The camp was set up to boost the physical welfare of children, believed to be in danger of degeneration in the early decades of the twentieth century. The health camp idea spread around the country.

Otaki Health Camp children, 1945. From the portfolio: PhotoForum - John Pascoe, 1945, Otaki. John Pascoe.

Otaki Health Camp children, 1945. From the portfolio: PhotoForum - John Pascoe, 1945, Otaki. John Pascoe.

In the 1930s, their administration was taken over the government. The camps were a plank in social security legislation implemented by the First Labour Government.

Publicity photograph for Health stamps, 1931, Wellington. Gordon H. Burt Ltd, Maker unknown. Te Papa

Publicity photograph for Health stamps, 1931, Wellington. Gordon H. Burt Ltd, Maker unknown. Te Papa

Stamps to raise funds for the camps have been sold since 1929. Many of the stamps were designed by notable commercial artists and feature strong  graphic elements.

Read more about early 20th century concerns for the health and welfare of  children on the Slice of Heaven exhibition website.

See Te Papa’s collection of Health stamp posters on Collections online

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

October 1935: This month last century

31 October 2012 – 11.36am

77 years ago the distribution of free milk to 5500 primary school children in Auckland begins (14 October 1935)

 This world first began as a temporary measure in Auckland for primary school children up to Standard 4 (year 6). The experiment, paid for the Auckland City Council, was closely watched by the government.

Initially, over 1500 litres of milk was distributed each day to 18 schools in the city.

Milk bottle, unknown, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Gift of the Guard Family, 1993. Te Papa

Milk bottle, unknown, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Gift of the Guard Family, 1993. Te Papa

Each child received half a pint (just under 300ml) of pasteurised milk in a glass bottle, like the one pictured above, with a cardboard lid. The lids had holes in them for drinking straws. Later the caps often carried promotional messages such as ‘Make a good start. Drink milk every morning’ and  ‘Full Marks to Pasteurised Milk’.

The free milk scheme was prompted by concerns about the low rate of consumption of milk, which meant that New Zealanders were degenerating into ‘a  B grade people’, according to Dr E B Gunson. Depression conditions and the associated poor diets and health of children were also causing anxiety.

This pilot scheme in Auckland was launched just before the election of the first Labour Government (led by Prime Minister Michael Savage, below), which became synonymous with the implementation of universal social security initiatives.

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, Roberts, Benjamin. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, Roberts, Benjamin. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Concerned with creating equal access for New Zealanders to basic health, education and welfare, this government made free milk available to all New Zealand primary school children in 1937. This was complemented by other health measures for children such as free dental care at school dental clinics. School dental nurses continued to stress the importance of milk in children’s diets.

The school milk scheme continued under successful governments, both National and Labour, until October 1967.

Read more about the government’s involvement in children’s health, the Depression and social welfare measures on the Slice of Heaven website

See nzhistory.net.nz for more details about the school milk scheme

Read more about the beginning of the school dental clinics and nurse on previous Te Papa’s blog

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
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