Remembering the Wahine disaster - 10 April 1968

Описание: Remembering the Wahine disaster.

The sinking of the Lyttelton–Wellington ferry Wahine on 10 April 1968 was one of New Zealand's worst modern maritime disasters, where fifty-one people lost their lives that tragic day, another died several weeks later and a 53rd victim died in 1990 from injuries sustained in the disaster. On the 9th of April 1968 the Meteorological Service issued a warning at 8:30pm advising that the Cook Strait was going to experience strong southerly winds, rain and poor visibility.

A tropical cyclone was also making its way down the country. Shortly after the warning from the Met service the ferry Wahine left Lyttelton Harbour for Wellington. The vessel entered the Cook Strait just as Cyclone Giselle blew south and in the early hours of the morning on the 10th, the ferry hit Barrett Reef, and capsized shortly after in the entrance to the Wellington harbour.

Though there have been worse shipping disasters in New Zealand with far greater loss of life, the sinking of the Wahine in 1968 is by far the most well-known. The tragedy can be attributed to one major cause - bad weather.

Retired Inspector John Bowman, was a constable at the time, and responded to the sinking first hand as a member of the police maritime unit.