The Wahine Disaster
The Wahine Disaster was a true story about how a Ship crashed in Wellington’s Harbour on the 10th of April 1968. The ship was a vehicle and passenger ferry, on its last journey it was carrying 68 cars and 25 tons of cargo.
Shortly after 6:00 am the Wahine’s radar system failed and massive waves from a Tropical Cyclone crashed onto it and sent passengers off their feet then ultimately sending the Ship into the notorious Barret Reef located in Wellington.
The Tropical Cyclone that caused this accident was called Cyclone Giselle.
The storm began a few days ago before it struck the Wahine and was suspected to be a Minor Tropical Cyclone headed towards the Chatham Islands, but it dramatically changed course to head towards Wellington which is where the Ship was sailing to.
Sadly 51 lost their lives on this tragic day. Another 1 person passed away 2 weeks after in hospital, and the 3rd person passed away in 1990 after the injuries sustained in the wreck.
The Wahine’s first voyage was on the 1st of August 1966, this tragic disaster was known as New Zealand's worst marine disaster.
