Wahine disaster: 44 years ago today

[Deano]

The Wahine inter-island ferry struck Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour on April 10, 1968.
The ferry was caught in extreme conditions caused by tropical cyclone Giselle, and 51 people died in the disaster.
Survivors and rescuers will gather together in Wellington today to mark the 44th anniversary of the Wahine disaster.
See full story http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10797794

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[JennyLeez]

Thanks Deano, I was pleased to read from your Herald posting above that Rescuers and survivors are still meeting each year to remember this tragedy.
I remember that storm although only young. There were power lines on the ground out front sparking. The rain was heavy. The river had risen and flooded over in front of our home in Gisborne. That was a scary night.
I posted in historic as well for further reading for anyone along with some photos.

Wahine Disaster April 10th 1968
 

[TokWW]

Huge flood in the Ruamahanga the days before Easter, Dad collected us home from boarding school a day earlier, we shifted 900 stock to a sandhill block, road was flooded 3 ft deep, trucks had problems wood striking radiator fan... and we back tracked 30miles to get home, still through flood waters.  We drove down to Wellington on Easter Sunday to see her beached off shore, all sorts of things turning up on the shore like shoes and clothes and other weird rubbish.  Yes a very sad weekend.

[JennyLeez]

You saw it Toko. ... I bet thats a time and place you will always remember.
and yes very sad.

[Suezy]

Wahine wheel may join other relics
MICHAEL WRIGHT Last updated 05:00 10/04/2012

A piece of New Zealand maritime history is set to become a museum exhibit, all the way from the spare bedroom of a Christchurch retiree's house.

The wheel of the Cook Strait ferry Wahine, which struck rocks in Wellington Harbour and sank 44 years ago today, has spent most of the intervening decades in Christchurch.

Now its owner wants to give it to the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, which has several Wahine artefacts on display.

The Christchurch man, who was on the first tug that went out to help the stricken ferry in 1968, wants to remain anonymous, but said he was able to "acquire" the wheel not long after the sinking.

"There were three wheels. I managed to acquire the ship's wheel, and the right bow rudder wheel somebody else grabbed."

The third wheel was damaged during the disaster, he said.

The wheel had acted as a pet-proof barrier in his home – keeping his dog out of the spare bedroom.

"I didn't want to leave the door shut because it could get quite damp in there."

However, the man had to have the dog put down last week because of ill health, and the wheel "had just been lying around", he said.

He had been considering giving it to the Wellington museum for several years.

The wheel was put to more appropriate use on occasion, appearing at a seafarers' reunion in Christchurch several years ago.

Redcliffs resident Terry Knight, a friend of the wheel owner, borrowed it for the reunion, and took an interest in its history.

He spoke to Kenny MacLeod, the Wahine helmsman who was at the wheel when the ship struck Barrett Reef, shortly before his death in 2009.

"I said we've got the wheel off the Wahine. He said my last recollection was lying on the deck, holding on to the bottom of that wheel to prevent being swept down."

The wheel owner planned to approach the maritime museum soon and offer it the relic.
Copied from The Press.
Photo below
IAIN MCGREGOR/Fairfax NZ
TO BE EXHIBITED? The wheel from the Wahine may join other relics at Museum of Wellington City & Sea.

[Suezy]

I remember this storm very well as we lost all our wood fences down the driveway in St Martins Road in Christchurch.
It also came over the radio that we all had to collect children from the schools and that they were being kept in class rooms till Mothers collected them owing to loose debris flying round.

[JennyLeez]

To me its one of those times everyone will remember where they were and what was happening. Much like the Christchurch earthquake in February last year.

[Mark]

 I was 10 at the time and we were told to walk home our selves.
You should see St Martins Road today its a mess near where the mail was.

[Suezy]

Haven't seen it Mark but believe they have made a start on the Supermarket again in Wilsons Road with the piles going down forever. Cant remember the distance but sure goes a long long way down.
Which school did you go to - my kids went to St Martins one.

[Mark]

I was going to Sydenham at the time of the storm.
But that year we move to Beckenham and i when to school at Beckenham and then to Cashmere high.
And i miss the old Sydenham postOffice the place i saved my first $1.
Its been 5 weeks since its come down.

[TokWW]

That wheel sure has a story to it!  That's wonderful he will be able to give it to the Maritime Museum soon.

Talking about ChCh, I remember the old Sydenham Fire Station that was shut down I believe, and used as student flats in the 80's.  Ironically I went there when there was a Saturday night student party and they had lit a bonfire in the concrete courtyard... students eh??!!

[Mark]

At one point it was the Firehouse nightclub also.