Gardeners warned about Legionnaires’ disease after 36 cases in Canterbury

Thirty-six people in Canterbury caught Legionnaires’ disease over the past year, prompting a warning from health officials. Health New Zealand is reminding New Zealanders to take precautions to protect themselves against the disease when gardening this spring after 135 people were hospitalised with the illness between September 1, 2025, and August 31 this year. Canterbury accounted for two-thirds of the 54 cases recorded in the South Island over that period. Forty-six people were hospitalised with the disease in the South Island and there were 152 cases across New Zealand in this period. Health New Zealand said people should take precautions while gardening as Legionella bacteria can thrive in moist environments and stagnant water, including potting mix, compost and other soil products. The disease is a type of pneumonia caused by breathing in the bacteria, with public health officials recording an increase in notifications linked to soil products each spring.