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The Legacy of New Zealand's Health Camps: Sunshine for the Soul
New Zealand has a proud history of public health initiatives. In 1919, in response to the condition of the young men drafted for the South African War, a new and innovative project was established called the "Sunshine Camps."
F6470 Health Camps for Happiness (1937) Courtesy of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.
The Inception of the Health Camps
Inspired by similar concepts overseas and driven by her observations as a school medical officer, the camps were initiated under the guidance of Dr Elizabeth Gunn. Dr Gunn envisioned the camps to address the health issues rampant in communities at the time, including tuberculosis, malnutrition and infectious diseases, especially documented in children.
The first camp was held in the Turakina Valley in 1919. The camp hosted 55 children, providing them with nutritious food, clean air, routine medical examinations, and sunshine—essential for elevating Vitamin D levels and improving overall health.
Purpose of the Health Camps
The core intention of the health camps was to boost children's health and address physical and mental well-being.
- Physical Health: Aimed at improving fitness, the camps emphasised outdoor activities and exercise. Children were provided a balanced diet, regular medical check-ups, dental care, and other health services.
- Mental Well-Being: Another aspect of the children’s lives the camp aimed to address was mental and emotional well-being. To combat the impact of illness and the cramped living conditions some children experienced at home, children at camp enjoyed open spaces, sunshine and connection.
- Education: As well as physical health, children were also educated about good health practices, nutrition, and hygiene. The intention was this knowledge would be absorbed by their families and communities when they returned home, compounding the impact of the health camps.
- Community: The camps brought children together from different backgrounds, fostering community spirit and the opportunity to make friends and learn from one another.
Reflections on their Legacy
The success of the Turakina camp laid the foundation for a nationwide movement with similar camps run by volunteers set up all around the country.
Over the next 100 years, the camps were first taken under the government’s authority and then the remit of a new charitable trust, STAND. By 2018, after funding issues, the last of the camps closed.
What remained was the country's commitment to public health. The lasting legacy of the health camps was the nation's focus on preventive healthcare. Instead of treating diseases rampant at the time, the focus shifted to preventing them, and the health camps were a significant step in that direction.
Find more information
Museums are a vital repository of heritage and culture. Displays and collections document and showcase achievements and developments in society and community. They provide invaluable insight into our lives, bridging past and present, ensuring future generations understand and appreciate our collective journey.
Several institutions and online archives house collections and information about New Zealand's health camps. The collections are a fascinating opportunity to discover the health camps’ impact on communities and society at the time.
To delve into this slice of history, you can view photographs and articles online at Nelson Provincial Museum, Te Papa, National Library, and Heritage New Zealand that chronicle the history of health camps in New Zealand.