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Tangiwai National Memorial

Tangiwai Disaster | Film Clips | Radio Files | Tangiwai Memorial

Location of memorial | Names on the memorial

Tangiwai Memorial from side

The Tangiwai National Memorial, designed by government architect F. Gordon Wilson, was unveiled at Karori Cemetery on 26 March 1957.  It is maintained by Heritage Operations, Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Another memorial was eventually erected at the scene of the disaster in June 1989.

See a transcript of the names on the memorial .

Tangiwai Memorial names (detail)

Plaques

The Tangiwai memorial features sixteen graves of Tangiwai victims, each with a bronze plaque at the foot. The eight named plaques are for: Edith Monica Cook (23), Jean Mary Cranch (19), Heather Edna Golding (29), Eileen Frances Hale (35), Kathleen Florence Hallam (24), Ronal Charles Hammond (25), Walter Edward Murray (54) and Adrianus Hubertus Thonissen (27). There are also eight graves for those whose bodies were never identified. These bear the inscription 'Known Unto God'.

Plaque for Edith Cook

Plaque for Jean Cranch

Plaque for Heather Golding

Plaque for Eileen Hale

Plaque for Kathleen Hallam

Plaque for Ronald Hammond

Plaque for Walter Murray

Plaque for Adrianus Thonissen

Plaque for unknown victims

 

Photographs of the opening of the memorial

The unveilling ceremony on 26 March 1957. Click on thumbnails for enlargements and sources. 

Unveiling of the memorial

PM Holland speaks

speaking to crowd

Unveiling of the memorial

Women weep over plaque

Women weeping over plaque of those killed

somber reflections

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