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    Rene Shadbolt

    René Shadbolt led the only New Zealand contingent to the Spanish Civil War. She and fellow nurse, Isobel Dodds, cared for wounded soldiers, particularly those from the International Brigades, from July 1937 to November 1938.

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Today in History

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Sinking of the <em>Wahine</em>

1968 Sinking of the Wahine

The ferry Wahine, with 734 passengers and crew on board, was en route from Lyttelton to Wellington when it fell victim to one of the most ferocious storms in New Zealand's recorded history. With the loss of 52 lives (plus a 53rd victim who died in 1990 from injuries sustained in the wreck), this was our worst modern maritime disaster.

A shocked nation watched in disbelief as the events of 10 April 1968 were beamed into their living rooms thanks to the then relatively new medium of television. Read more...

Image: The Wahine founders off Steeple Rock 

Internal links

New Zealand disasters timelineThe Wahine disasterRough crossings - Cook Strait ferriesEnd of the line - Lyttelton-Wellington ferries1968 - key events

External links

  • The sinking of the Wahine (Wtgn city libraries)
  • Wahine (NZ Maritime Museum)
  • The day the Wahine went down (Wairarapa Times Age)
  • 20th century shipwrecks (Te Ara)
This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Meet the NZHistory.net.nz team