PhD Thesis - ResearchSpace@Auckland - The University of Auckland

In 1949, the Department of Maori Affairs commented that ‘it had always been
difficult to convince Maori parents of the wisdom and necessity of inoculation as a
protection for their children and the community against typhoid and other diseases’. 23
A perception that Maori might be troublesome meant that little, if any, explanation of
typhoid immunisation was given, and tribal committees were often not consulted for
consent even though the immunisations were an annual event. The Pariroa (Maori
Welfare) Tribal Committee wrote to the Health Inspector at Wanganui in 1949 after
their children had been immunised at Kararamea School with a list of questions
regarding the injections. These included asking why the children were injected and
whether it was compulsory, as well as questioning why parents had not been informed
beforehand. 24 The Health Department sent back a patronising letter explaining about
typhoid immunisations which were referred to throughout as ‘a privilege’. 25 It is most
significant that after twenty years of the Health Department administering these
injections, some tribal committees still lacked knowledge of Health Department
policy regarding typhoid prevention or the causes of typhoid thus demonstrating that
the Department neglected their consultation duties with community leaders. Maori
consent of any kind was not always regarded as necessary by the Department, who, it
seemed, felt that silence was the best policy to adopt in order to carry out their
immunisation policy unopposed.
The legality of the Department’s typhoid immunisation policy remained unchallenged
until 1948 when the Wanganui Head Teachers Association asked the Department ‘to
define, for the headteachers’ protection, their legal position as temporary guardian of
the child... as it is contrary to the usual routine not to have the parents’ consent’. 26
Questions had been raised by parents and some teachers regarding the right of the
Medical Officers to carry out such injections.
The Health Department was fully aware it was acting illegally by administering
immunisations without parental consent but was unsure of the legal responsibility of
teachers and medical personnel should an incident occur. An opinion was sought by
23
R. Royal to Minister of Health, 24 June 1949, ABQU 632 W4415/263 13/4/1 57734, ANZ,
Wellington.
24
R. Heremaia to Health Inspector, Wanganui, 7 April 1949, ibid.
25
T. C. Lonie to R. Heremaia, 14 April 1949, ibid.
26
C. P. Bates to Secretary, Education Board, Wanganui, 4 June 1948, and H. B. Turbott to Solicitor-
General, 19 August 1948, ibid.
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