Plans announced for 50th anniversary of Wahine disaster

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Retired Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, chairman of the Wahine 50 Trust.

A trust has announced its plans to commemorate the 50th Wahine Day on April 10 next year.

The Wahine 50 Charitable Trust is working with local councils and other groups to plan a dawn service at Eastbourne, followed by a midday event on Wellington's waterfront, and an afternoon visit to the Wahine memorials at Seatoun.

Bill Day, left, Vicki Rowland, and Rhys Jones gather by the propeller of the Wahine in Wahine Memorial Park at the edge of Wellington Harbour.

A reunion lunch for survivors, rescuers, and family members of those on board will also be included as the fateful day is remembered when passenger ferry Wahine ran aground at the entrance of Wellington Harbour, listed, and then sank.

Forty-nine years ago, on April 10, 1968, 51 of the 734 passengers and crew died. Another two died later from their injuries.

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'The significance of the Wahine disaster for New Zealand goes well beyond the events of the day,' said chairman of the trust, retired Lieutenant General Rhys Jones.

'The loss of life was tragic and those 53 will always be remembered, but it was thanks to the courageous actions of many others in the face of treacherous conditions, that such a large number survived.'

Jones, who was the Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force from 2011 to 2014, said safety and emergency response during accidents or disasters, particularly maritime disasters, were always going to be serious issues for New Zealanders.

'This tragedy led to improved safety procedures on ships and prompted the creation of two significant rescue services: the Wellington Volunteer Coastguard and the Life Flight Trust.

'The Wahine tragedy reminds us that we live on a group of small volcanic, earthquake prone islands in a vast ocean with extensive coastline and changeable weather patterns.'

Interviews with survivors, rescuers and their families will be filmed to help ensure future generations understand the very intense personal experiences, and the impact it had on their lives, he said.

'The 50th commemoration of this disaster will be a powerful opportunity to emphasise the need to maintain vigilance.'