THE WAHINE DISASTER

AUTHORS - Max Lambert and Jim Hartley

PUBLICATION - A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wanganui, NZ, 1969

CONDITION - Hardback first edition. The book has only the slightest of rubbing and bumping on bottom edge and spine, but the pages are clean and bright, and the binding is very good. There is a little faint browning on the top page edging. Dustwrapper is in very good condition with only a little rubbing, bumping and creasing at top and bottom of spine, and corners.

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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