THE WAHINE DISASTER

AUTHORS - Max Lambert and Jim Hartley

PUBLICATION - A.H. & A.W. Reed 1970 Reprint

CONDITION - Very good condition, binding is tight and pages are very clean and bright. Very slight foxing on page edges and previous owner's inscription on title page. Dustwrapper in good condition, rubbing and bumping and slight tears on corners and top and bottom of spine. No tears more than 10mm, closed tears only. Tidy condition.

PRICE - $30

DESCRIPTION - Although there have been worse shipping disasters in New Zealand with greater loss of life, the sinking of the Wahine in 1968 is by far the most well known. The tragedy can be attributed to one major cause: the weather. The storm which exploded upon Wellington in April 1968 was one of the worst ever recorded in New Zealand. Its ferocity was due to it being a combination of two storms which merged directly over Wellington. They clashed at almost exactly the same time as the overnight Lyttleton-Wellington ferry TEV Wahine approached the harbour entrance. Massive waves and hurricane force winds led to the ship being forced on to Barrett's Reef. This resulted in the loss of the starboard propeller and the failure of the port engine, leaving the ship without propulsive power. With capsize inevitable, the order to abandon ship was given. Of the 734 passengers and crew on board, 51 lost their lives. On shore, the storm resulted in massive damage, flooding and injuries as people were hit by flying debris. The storm also marked the coming-of-age for television news broadcasting in New Zealand as camera crews rushed to report on events as they unfolded. The resulting footage was screened around the world. Television coverage of the disaster later went on to win an international World News film award. The Wahine Disaster by Lambert and Hartley is probably the most detailed book written for the general reader on the disaster. It also includes a number of dramatic photographs of the event.

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