The Wahine disaster occurred on 10 April 1968 when the TEV
Wahine, a New Zealand inter-island ferry of the Union Company, foundered on
Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour and capsized near Steeple
Rock. Of the 610 passengers and 123 crew on board, 53 people died. The wrecking
of the Wahine is one of the better known maritime disasters in New Zealand's
history, although there have been worse with far greater loss of life. New
Zealand radio and television captured the drama as it happened, within a short
distance of shore of the eastern suburbs of Wellington, and flew film overseas
for world TV news.
