CLIVE FLOODS
HAWKES BAY, NORTH ISLAND
GOOD FRIDAY 16 APRIL 1897

Good Friday 1897 dawned fine but during the day a terrific gale sprang up bringing much rain to the Hawkes Bay. The rain continued all day and the rivers rose at an alarming rate. The settlers took cover where they could including the Clive Bridge and Clive Hotel where 236 refugees sheltered.

Three boats set out from Waitangi, near Clive to bring help to the stranded residents but disaster struck as the flood waters rent a hole in the bank allowing the dammed waters to race out to the sea. The first boat had got clear in time but the other two were capsized and the crew lost their lives.
Ten Men Lost Their Lives on that Good Friday in Attempting to Rescue the Flooded Out Settlers. Two settlers also did not survive making a total of 12 deaths.

A memorial was erected by Napier residents and is on the Marine Parade by the new Te Pania hotel.

Have added the fatalities.