Remembering the Wahine Disaster – 10 April 1968

The Wahine Disaster took place on 10 April 1968. We reflect on the loss of fifty one people - this tragedy resonates strongly down the decades.

The Wahine Disaster played out across the nation’s television in grainy black and white, and the newsroom brought the story to our living rooms. The ferry’s proximity to shore - where people watched helplessly - added to our sense of powerlessness in the face of tragedy.

• You can watch some of the original footage on NZ On Screen. and there is also a collection on NZ On Screen of documentaries about the Wahine Disaster.
• Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision has audio reports of the Wahine Disaster. This recording contains radio news coverage of the sinking of the Lyttelton–Wellington ferry 'Wahine' on 10 April 1968.  It was filed on the evening of the disaster and contains a detailed description of the cause of the disaster, the death toll and the search and rescue scene.

The storm affected many parts of the country including Canterbury. It tore of the roofs of houses on Cannon Hill and forced many homes in Sumner to be evacuated.

I recall my parents pointing to the wreckage, which was still visible for many years, as we neared Wellington on our ferry voyage. Each time there is a rough ferry crossing, the fate of the Wahine ferry is remembered and our thoughts are once again with those who died and with the survivors of that ill-fated voyage.

Find out more:

• Our page on the sinking of the Wahine.
• The sinking of the Wahine, 10 April 1968, Wellington City Libraries
• The sinking of the Wahine a DigitalNZ set of images
• Wahine Disaster from NZ History.net.
• Audio recordings from Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

Articles on the 50th anniversary of the Wahine disaster

• Survivors of the Wahine disaster tell their story 50 years on Radio NZ
• Wahine disaster survivors' thank-you to rescuers at 50th anniversary events in Wellington NZ Herald
• Wahine disaster 50 years on: What happened that day Stuff