Pages tagged with: wahine

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the ferry Wahine. With 52 lives lost, this was New Zealand's worst modern maritime disaster. The Wahine’s demise on 10 April 1968 also heralded a new era in local TV news as pictures of the disaster were beamed into Kiwi living rooms. 

It's disaster awareness week and we've provided a timeline of New Zealand's worst natural disasters, transport accidents, fires, mining accidents and other tragedies that have caused major loss of life.

How police responded to the disasters, particularly Tangiwai, Wahine and Erebus

The events that led to the drowning of 51 people in the Wahine disaster of 10 April 1968

The police, emergency services and civilians rescued passengers and crew from the inter-island ferry Wahine in Wellington Harbour in April 1968.

This map of Wellington Harbour is adapted from the original that appeared in the police inquiry report. It shows the location of the Wahine sinking and some key points in the rescue operation.

The Wahine founders off Steeple Rock; the rail ferry Aramoana and other vessels stand by.

A lifeboat from the Wahine comes ashore alongside Seatoun Wharf, 10 April 1968.

Collapsed life-rafts from the Wahine are hauled up by police and others on the eastern shore of the harbour, 10 April 1968.

Wahine survivors are rescued from life-rafts on the eastern shore. Some people who had survived everything else died when dashed against the rocks.

In the face of competition from other forms of transport the Union Steam Ship Company abandoned its glamour ferry service, sending the Maori to the scrappers in 1974.

The court of inquiry that met 10 weeks after the sinking pinpointed the build-up of water in the vehicle deck as the reason the ferry finally capsized.

Police cadets (in berets) and all other available police members were called in to help.

Wahine survivors are carried off Seatoun Wharf, 10 April 1968.

The Royal Humane Society Gold Medal was presented to the New Zealand Police in recognition of heroic efforts in saving life from the Wahine disaster.

The Wahine (right) reverses into the new Lyttelton ferry terminal, while the Maori is berthed at another wharf. The image was taken shortly after the Wahine came into service in 1966.

Kate Watson's account of her rescue from the Wahine including an image of her and her rescuer.

This large waka mural decorated the second Wahine's cafeteria.

Map showing the voyage of the Wahine on the day it sank in Wellington Harbour

The Wahine disaster on 10 April 1968 spurred the formation of the Wellington Sea Rescue Service (now the Wellington Volunteer Coastguard).

Survivors huddle on Seatoun beach following the sinking of the Wahine on 10 April 1968.

Members of a Japanese salvage firm and navy divers inspecting the wreckage of the Wahine

A lifeboat from the Wahine lands passengers and crew on Seatoun Beach, Wellington, after the ship capsized on 10 April 1968.

The Wahine ferry lists heavily as it sinks in Wellington Harbour on 10 April 1968.

Hear a contemporary television news broadcast about the loss of the inter-island ferry TEV Wahine in Wellington Harbour in April 1968.

A Wahine crew member describes the terrible scene and the sounds of lifeboats during the disaster.

A crew member describes his experiences aboard the Wahine after the abandon ship order.

Hear the recollections of a female passenger who was aboard the Wahine when it sank.

Hear a radio broadcast of the sinking of the inter-island ferry Wahine.