NZHistory, New Zealand history online - tangiwai

Tangiwai disaster - classroom activities

This page gives a broad outline of how the category on New Zealand disasters could be used by teachers and students of social studies and history. This category explores some of the natural disasters, shipwrecks, train crashes and other tragedies that have caused major loss of life and shocked New Zealand. It includes:

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Social studies

The cause and impact of these disasters is of great relevance to social studies at all levels. At the earliest level of the social sciences curriculum students are asked to explore how the past is important to people and how places in New Zealand are significant for individuals and groups.

Disasters such as these represent one aspect of people’s interaction with their environment and how places influence people and people influence places. Some of the places associated with these disasters have taken on great significance for individuals and groups and their names have become by-words for tragedy.

These significant events from New Zealand’s past have shaped peoples lives and are an ideal way of examining how events have causes and effects.

For more detail of specific activities relating to this category go to New Zealand disasters activities - social studies

NCEA history

The impact of these disasters could be used as the context for research-based achievement standards at all levels.

Tangiwai railway bridge after disaster, 1953

Twisted train tracks lead to the banks of the Whangaehu River, Tangiwai, the scene of the railway disaster of 24 December 1953. The photograph shows the gap where the bridge was washed away by the lahar.

Alexander Turnbull Library
Morrie Peacock Collection
Reference: PAColl-4875-1-01-06
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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railways

The Tangiwai cricket test, Boxing Day 1953

The 1953–54 New Zealand cricket team in South Africa. R.W. (Bob) Blair is the last player on the right in the second row. Bert Sutcliffe is third from the right, sitting down.

The Tangiwai test, Boxing Day 1953

One of the most memorable and poignant moments in New Zealand cricket history occurred on 26 December 1953, just two days after the Tangiwai rail disaster. At the time, the New Zealand team was touring South Africa. The second test, at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, started on 24 December and recommenced, after a day off for Christmas, on Boxing Day. By the time play resumed, reports of the Tangiwai tragedy – at the time the world’s eighth-deadliest rail disaster – had flashed around the world. The news was especially devastating for one of the New Zealand players, fast bowler Bob Blair, who learned that his fiancée, Nerissa Love, was among the 151 victims.

As New Zealand began its first innings on the morning of the 26th, chasing South Africa’s 271, a distraught Blair remained at the team hotel and was not expected to play. On a lively pitch, Bert Sutcliffe and Lawrie Miller were both forced to retire hurt after being hit by bouncers from the fiery fast bowler Neil Adcock; John Reid was struck five times before being dismissed for three. With the visitors reduced to 81 for 6, Sutcliffe returned to the crease, his forehead swathed in bandages. When the ninth wicket fell at 154, however, all of the players began to leave the field. Suddenly the crowd stood in silence as the lone figure of Blair emerged from the tunnel and was greeted by Sutcliffe, who placed a comforting arm around his shoulder. What followed was sensational as the pair smashed 25 runs (including four sixes – three by Sutcliffe and one by Blair) off a single over from South Africa’s Hugh Tayfield. By the time Blair was dismissed, the team's total had climbed to 187, with Sutcliffe 80 not out.

A superb bowling effort then restricted South Africa to just 148, leaving the New Zealanders chasing 233 for a historic first test win. Although they reached 75 for 3 on the last morning, a win was not to be as the remaining 7 wickets fell for 25. Nevertheless, the local press hailed the New Zealanders' ‘dauntless spirit’ and declared that ‘All the glory was for the vanquished’; ‘Memories of the match will not be of the runs made or of wickets taken, but of the courage displayed.’

D.O. Neely, R.P. King, & F.K. Payne, Men in white, Moa Publications, Auckland, 1985

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Wreckage of Car Z - Tangiwai disaster

Car Z, seen here, was the only first-class carriage to tumble into the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai. It was swept onto the river bank, and 21 of its 22 occupants were rescued. The other three first-class cars and two vans remained on the track. Those travelling in the five second-class cars were not so fortunate – out of more than 170 second-class passengers, only 28 survived.

Archives New Zealand
Ref: AAVK, W3493, D1952

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disasters

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Film clip: Tangiwai film pt5

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 5

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. We are most grateful to Mr Nitschke's family for making this available. It has never before been publicly screened. The five minutes (approximately) of total footage clearly shows the wreckage of the train and bridge against a backdrop of the still-swollen Whangaehu River.

Clip 5 shows the prime minister, Sidney Holland, and the future prime minister, Walter Nash, viewing the river, broken bridge and general wreckage.

Still shots from the film

Edwin Nitschke family

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Film clip: Tangiwai film pt4

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 4

Clip 4 shows wrecked carriages by the still-swollen Whangaehu River.

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Film clip: Tangiwai film pt3

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 3

Clip 3 shows police and army personnel at the scene and bulldozers clearing rubble. (Windows media, 1.2mb)

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Film clip: Tangiwai film pt2

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 2

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. We are most grateful to Mr Nitschke's family for making this available. It has never before been publicly screened. The five minutes (approximately) of total footage, divided into five clips, clearly shows the wreckage of the train and bridge against a backdrop of the still-swollen Whangaehu River.

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Further information - Tangiwai railway disaster

This web feature was written by Neill Atkinson, Nicola Barnett and Steve Watters and produced by the NZHistory.net.nz team.

Books and articles

Kevin Boon, The Tangiwai rail disaster, Nelson Price Milburn, Petone, 1990
Geoff Conly & Graham Stewart, On the track: Tangiwai and other railway accidents, rev. edn, Grantham House, Wellington, 1991
Evening Post, 26–28 December 1953
Bruce Morris, Darkest days, 1st rev. edn, Wilson & Horton, Auckland, 1987
New Zealand Railways, Tangiwai railway disaster: Report of board of inquiry, Government Printer, Wellington, 1954

Sound: Lionel Sceats remembers the Tangiwai disaster

A reporter's view

Hear Lionel Sceats talk about the disaster.

Transcript

It's a long straight stretch of railway, with the main highway close by. Motorists who have travelled through this part of the country know that as they pass the railway station at Tangiwai – that is 7 miles to the south of Waiouru – there's a river – the Whangaehu River – about a quarter of a mile, maybe half a mile past the railway station, past the crossing. This was the scene of the disaster. The railway line itself is a long, straight stretch, and on both sides of the railway bridge are elbows in the river – on the east side of the bridge.

At this moment the mud and the slush which is left, and all the silt, indicates that the pressure of water from the mountainous areas in the east – Ruapehu is to the east – this flood water, the pressure of water which came from the cloud burst south of Ruapehu, must have struck the railway embankment, and the only outlet, under terrific pressure, was under the bridge.

And the bridge was only 20 or 30 feet high, about 90 feet long. It had about half a dozen pylons – I can only see three, four, one of them tumbled on the northern end, the other two, one of them about 40 feet from its previous position with the dirty, grey water swirling over it and the other fully 40 yards away. And all that is left of this bridge is 20 or 30 feet on the southern end.

The pressure of water must have swept those two massive concrete pylons down the stream. The parallel road bridge, further away – well, it's about 100 yards further away – was also wrecked, and all the low-lying area is covered with mud and silt, showing the severity of the flood, which was the cause of the disaster. [END]

Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Reference no: D355.1

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NZHistory, New Zealand history online - tangiwai

Tangiwai disaster - classroom activities

Social studies

NCEA history

More classroom topics

Tangiwai railway bridge after disaster, 1953

The Tangiwai cricket test, Boxing Day 1953

The Tangiwai test, Boxing Day 1953

Wreckage of Car Z - Tangiwai disaster

Film clip: Tangiwai film pt5

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 5

Still shots from the film

Film clip: Tangiwai film pt4

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 4

Film clip: Tangiwai film pt3

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 3

Film clip: Tangiwai film pt2

Tangiwai film shot two days after the disaster – clip 2

Further information - Tangiwai railway disaster

Links

Books and articles

Sound: Lionel Sceats remembers the Tangiwai disaster

A reporter's view

Transcript