Measles cases in New Zealand 2025

The story so far

Health New Zealand identified a Bluebridge ferry sailing from Picton to Wellington on 3 October as a high-risk exposure event, and cases were then confirmed in Taranaki and Wellington.^{23, 24 Oct 2025} The biggest cluster has centred on Wellington College and Wellington Girls' College, where hundreds and then thousands of close contacts were identified and some students were told to stay home. Exposures also reached Auckland Grammar School.^{27, 28, 29, 31 Oct 2025} The national total passed 30 by early December, with cases in Auckland, Waikato, Dunedin and Queenstown, and the government made measles vaccines free for everyone over one year old.^{31 Oct 2025; 3, 5 Dec 2025} Officials have warned that the virus is likely spreading undetected and that the risk of community spread remains very high.^{22, 30 Oct 2025; 6 Nov 2025}

What's next

Officials expect further locations of interest may be announced as the public health response continues.^{15 Dec 2025}

Key moments

1. 20 Oct 2025First case linked to overseas travel confirmed in Auckland.
2. 23 Oct 2025Bluebridge ferry sailing identified as high-risk exposure event.
3. 28 Oct 2025Wellington college cluster brings national total to 11 cases.
4. 31 Oct 2025Government makes measles vaccines free for everyone over one.
5. 2 Nov 2025Labour criticises Seymour over media event during student testing.
6. 7 Nov 2025Over 10,000 MMR doses given during National Immunisation Week.
7. 15 Nov 2025Student travelled through airports and school buses while infectious.
8. 23 Dec 2025Three new cases bring national total to 35.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.