Debbie atherton keeps a diary and writes to it as if it were a pen pal. Survivor stories revealed 50 years on from the wahine disaster. Fortynine years ago, on 10 april 1968, the passenger ferry wahine, buffeted by ferocious galeforce winds, ran aground on barrett reef at the entrance of. The twin screw turbo electric steamer wahine was built at govan, scotland in 1966 for the union steam ship company of new zealand ltd by fairfields ltd of glasgow. At the time i was working on the ship as a steward and enjoying the life of being at sea. These news features include aerial footage of the ship after the storm, and nzbc reporters conducting dramatic interviews with survivors, police and the head of the union steam.
More than 50 people died when the ship keeled over just inside wellington harbour, after hitting a reef during a ferocious cyclone. This is a list of new zealand disasters by death toll, listing major disasters excluding acts of war which occurred in new zealand and its territories or involved a significant number of new zealand citizens, in a specific incident, where the loss of life was 10 or more. Stan spiers still chokes up when asked to remember wahine. Wahine disaster students britannica kids homework help.
Science report disaster stories 03 massey university. On the night of june 10, 1886, 62 people sheltered in te paeas whare at te wairoa during the eruption. Many of the fatalties were of elderly people and young children who struggled to swim in the best of weather let alone rough seas. The wahine disaster wahine disaster nzhistory, new. While debbies own diary tells of 1960s school life and troubles with her friends, excerpts from the diary of 1841 tell of the hardships of life on an emigrant sailing ship. The sinking of the lytteltonwellington ferry wahine on 10 april 1968 was new zealands worst modern maritime disaster. Lessons from wahine sinking make shipping safer maritime nz. Much of it rightly focuses on the memories of survivors from that day and those who rescued them from the sea. The wahine interisland ferry sank in the shallow coastal waters of wellington harbor in new zealand during a fierce storm in 1968. It sailed along the east coast toward wellington on the north island. When debbies grandmother gives her a copy of her forefathers old sea journal, she finds it fascinating. The 10th april 1968 will always be remembered as the date of the wahine disaster.
The ships hull was severely damaged causing the ship to list to the starboard. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Disaster looking east on a calm day over the entry of wellington harbour, where the disaster occurred around 1. The cook strait was going to experience strong southerlywinds, rain and poor visibility. Further information wahine disaster nzhistory, new. A good picture book has the power to pull children away from their. With 734 passengers and crew, wahine left lyttelton at 8. The wahine disaster by max lambert and jim hartley 910. Consequences following the sinking of the wahine first and most importantly lives were lost in the disaster, 51 to be correct. Survivors of the wahine disaster tell their story 50 years on on 9 april 1968, the meteorological serviceissued a warning at 8.
Joy hanna, adas daughter, also noted in her covering letter to the library that her mothers name did not appear in the book. This is a video that i made for a history project for school no intended. Nzbc classics wahine disaster television nz on screen. Tev wahine was a twinscrew, turboelectric, rollonrolloff passenger and vehicle ferry. List of disasters in new zealand by death toll wikipedia. Wahine memorial park marks the disaster with a bow thruster, near where the survivors reached the shore at seatoun. An invitation to the launch of the wahine disaster a tragedy remembered by emmanuel makarios grantham. The ferrys proximity to shore where people watched helplessly certainly added to our sense of powerlessness in the face of tragedy. On the 10 of april 1968, in the wellington harbour, the tev wahine ran aground on barretts reef. The wahine disaster wellington 1968 by shirley corlett. It is remembered in the country as one of the worst marine disasters in the modern age.
Over fifty people died, making it one of the worst maritime disasters in new zealands history. The wahine disaster by max lambert, jim hartley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. For those who were in wellington on april 10, 1968 the memory of the ferocious storm that lifted roofs, hammered homes and created deadly sea swells is one that is impossible to forget. This week, we mark 50 years since new zealands worst maritime disaster in modern times, the sinking of the wahine. Fiftythree people died as a result of the accident, 51 on the day. Wahine survivor plans wee prayer to mark tragedy on his.
On the 10th april 1968, within sight of shore, the interisland ferry wahine lay on her side in the wellington harbour. Tev wahine news newspapers books scholar jstor april 2018 learn how and when. Author recreates the story of nzs worst maritime disaster since 1894 using interviews with members of the wahines crew an passengers, and the official inquiry report. On april the 10th two storms merged over wellington, hurricane giselle was heading south after wreaking havoc across the north island and it merged with another dreadfull storm that had travelled from. On 10 april 1968, during an exceptional storm, the interisland ferry wahine struck barrett reef in wellington harbour and capsized. The sinking of the lyttelton wellington ferry wahine on 10 april 1968 was new zealands worst modern maritime disaster. The wahine disaster wahine disaster nzhistory, new zealand.
Nzbc classics wahine disaster on 10 april 1968 the lytteltonwellington ferry wahine ran aground and sank at the entrance to wellington harbour. Further information wahine disaster nzhistory, new zealand. Celebrating the latest books from aotearoa and the south pacific. Though it will be 50 years on tuesday since the wahine disaster, the memories of new zealands worst maritime tragedy still remain painfully clear. The wahine disaster is one of new zealands most well known and remembered tragedies. Our wahine is an illustrated history of 125 extraordinary new zealand women created by artist kate hursthouse.
A tropical cyclone was also making its way down the country. Wahine disaster survivor kay mccormick at wellington railway station after the sinking. A very great amount has been written, filmed and spoken about the wahine disaster in the many years since 10th april 1968. Hes 75 now, retired, and enjoying the comfort of the late summer sun streaming into his port chalmers home. In commemoration of the wahine tragedy, we have provided a brief synopsis of adas story including selected excerpts from her letter.
On the evening of april 9, 1968, the wahine set off from lyttelton, near christchurch, on the south island. The wahine was a ferry that ran between lyttelton and wellington. It also includes a number of dramatic photographs of the event. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. This novel was originally part of the my story series titled abandon ship published in 2003 but it has been redesigned and i have just read it in the week that the wahine went down 52 years ago. Many lives were lost through the tragic sinking of this ship. The wahine disaster by lambert max and hartley jim abebooks.
Fifteen minutes later the ferry wahine left lyttelton harbour for wellington, carrying 734 passengers and crew, and one stowaway. Wahine disaster, the these thoughts and recollections are taken from a book dealing with a disaster that occurred in wellington, new zealand on april 10, 1968, when the interisland ferry wahine foundered on barret reef near the entrance to wellington harbour. Wahine disaster survivors thankyou to rescuers at 50th. The wahine disaster by lambert max and hartley jim. The cook strait was going to experience strong southerly winds, rain and poor visibility. Fortynine years ago, on 10 april 1968, the passenger ferry wahine, buffeted by ferocious galeforce winds, ran. The main cause behind the eventual grounding of the wahine was some of the worst weather recorded in new zealand history.
On the morning of 10 april 1968, cyclone giselle hit wellington at the same time as another storm which had driven up the west coast of. A study of one of the worst maritime disasters in new zealand history. When she gets glandular fever she is sent to christchurch to recuperate, accompanied by val. The wahine disaster played out across the nations television in grainy black and white, and the newsroom brought the story to our living rooms. Survivors of the wahine disaster tell their story 50 years. The wahine disaster wahine disaster 40 years ago marked the interisland ferry wahine sank almost 40 ago in wellington harbour on april 10 1968, with the loss of 51 lives. The wahine disaster, wellington,1968 my new zealand story.
My new zealand story debbie atherton keeps a diary and writes to it as if it were a pen pal, telling of her frustrations at school, of her older cousin val and her exciting life, and of her home life. Kevin boon, the wahine disaster, nelson price milburn, petone, about 1990. The ferry tev wahine strikes a reef at the mouth of wellington harbour, new zealand, with the loss of 53 lives, in cyclone giselle, which created the windiest conditions ever recorded in new zealand. Each book includes a useful historical note and a section of photos from the time. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
Reporter chris morris speaks to three men with otago links a crew member, a passenger and a rescuer about new zealands worst modern maritime disaster. The wahine disaster catalyst for change scoop news. Drawing on oral history and archival records it provides a vivid account of the events of 10 april 1968inside cover. Survivors of the wahine disaster tell their story 50 years on rnz. The first news reports covering the wahine disaster in 1968 have been shared by nz on screen as part of its 50th commemoration collection fiftythree people died, 51 on the day, when the. A tragedy remembered paperback 2004 by emmanuel makarios author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Fiftyone people lost their lives that day, another died several weeks later and a 53rd victim died in 1990 from injuries sustained in the wreck.
Book cover of the wahine disaster passengers were told that the ferry was aground on the reef, and to put on their lifejackets and report to their. A wahine disaster commemoration service will be held at the wahine mast memorial on the shore of wellington harbour near eastbourne at 6. The wahine disaster shirley corlett book instock buy now at. Wahine day the focus of this short film is a memorial service on seatoun beach, five years after the sinking of interisland ferry wahine on 10 april 1968. As we reflect on the 50th anniversary of new zealands worst maritime disaster in modern times, the sinking of tev wahine on 10 april 1968, we can see that lessons from that tragedy make shipping safer today maritime nz acting director, stephanie winson, said the tragedy in wellington harbour 50 years ago helped change international maritime safety conventions and standards. Books and articles kevin boon, the wahine disaster, nelson price milburn, petone, about 1990. These names were taken from the bay of plenty times for the 11th, th and 15th april 1968 and crossreferenced to the book the wahine disaster a tragedy remembered by emmanuel makarios grantham house. Survivors of the wahine disaster tell their story 50 years on on 9 april 1968, the meteorological service issued a warning at 8.
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