Six people have died in the space of just 12 days after influenza swept through a rest home in the Coromandel town of Whitianga.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand was notified of an outbreak at the Whitianga Care Centre and Village in late January.

It says the outbreak came to an end on February the 9th.

The centre is run by Oceania Healthcare, its group general manager for sales and services Anita Hawthorn says there are 48 residents and a total of 17 residents and eight staff were affected.

Hawthorn spoke to Charlotte Cook.