New Zealand disasters timeline
A chronology of natural disasters, transport accidents, fires, mining accidents and other tragedies that have caused major loss of life more...
February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
At 12.51 p.m. on 22 February 2011, Canterbury was struck by a large earthquake which caused massive devastation and the loss of 185 lives. more...
Pike River mine disaster
Since coal mining began in New Zealand there have been over 200 recorded deaths from nine seperate mine explosions, the most recent of which was at the Pike River mine in November 2010. more...
September 2010 Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake
An overview and detailed timeline of the events of 4 September 2010 when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Canterbury more...
Tangiwai disaster
It was New Zealand's worst-ever rail disaster. Listen to radio broadcasts from the time, and watch an 8-mm film of the Tangiwai disaster site. more...
Wahine disaster
The loss of the Wellington–Lyttelton ferry Wahine on 10 April 1968 is New Zealand's worst modern maritime disaster. more...
Erebus disaster
237 passengers and 20 crew were killed when Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the side of Mt Erebus, Antarctica on 28 November 1979 more...
The 1918 influenza pandemic
They called it 'Black November'. What really happened in 1918 when more than 8000 New Zealanders – including a disproportionate number of Maori – perished during a lethal flu pandemic? more...
Responding to tragedy
Police have always been at the heart of disaster rescue efforts because of their nation-wide 24-hour presence and communications network more...