The 2022–2024 mpox outbreak in New Zealand is a part of the outbreak of human mpox caused by the West African clade of the monkeypox virus. The outbreak reached New Zealand on 9 July 2022. By 15 August 2024, there had been 53 local cases of confirmed mpox in New Zealand since July 2022; with four occurring in Auckland in 2024. In mid-September 2024, a local outbreak linked to the Queenstown Winter Pride festival in late August 2024 had been reported.
Transmission.
A large portion of those infected were believed to have not recently traveled to areas of Africa where mpox is normally found, such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as central and western Africa. It is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals with lesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing. The CDC has also stated that individuals should avoid contact and consumption of dead animals such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes along with wild game or lotions derived from animals in Africa.
In addition to more common symptoms, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions, some patients have also experienced proctitis, an inflammation of the rectum lining. CDC has also warned clinicians to not rule out mpox in patients with sexually transmitted infections since there have been reports of co-infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes.
History.
On 9 July 2022, the Ministry of Health confirmed New Zealand's first case of mpox. The individual was an Auckland resident in their 20s who had recently returned from overseas travel in a country with reported cases of mpox.
On 12 July 2022, New Zealand reported its second case of mpox. The Health Ministry confirmed that the individual had no links to the first case and had also returned from overseas travel.
By 9 January 2023, the country had reported a total 41 cases of mpox. That same day, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall confirmed that the New Zealand Government purchased 5,000 vials of mpox vaccines, enough for 20,000 people. A further shipment of vaccine vials was ordered for the later half of 2023. Individuals eligible for the mpox vaccine included close physical contacts of people with mpox including sexual partners and household contacts; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with multiple partners, transgender and cisgender women who are in sexual relationships with these men; and those recommended to have the vaccine by medical specialists.
By 15 August 2024, Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) had confirmed that there had been a total 53 local cases of mpox since July 2022; with four being reported in 2024 in Auckland.
On 9 September 2024, a new mpox case was reported. The individual had attended the Winter Pride festival in Queenstown in August 2024. On 11 September, a second mpox case was linked to the Queenstown Winter Pride festival. 
By 20 September, a total of 11 cases of mpox had been linked to the Winter Pride festival. The Queenstown outbreak also included several cases of mpox clade II.