What happened on Wahine Day?
The Wahine was the pride of the Union Steam Ship Company’s fleet, a state-ofthe-art passenger ferry that had been in service for little more than two years.
With a capacity for 928 passengers and 123 officers and crew, it was carrying the maximum number of the latter and 610 passengers, as well as two stowaways.
The turbo-electric vessel (TEV) Wahine had made the Lyttelton to Wellington run hundreds of times since first starting its service in 1966.
On the night of April 9, 1968, it left Lyttelton about 8.45pm, about 45 minutes later than scheduled. This wasn’t unusual, and it wasn’t a problem as the vessel had the ability to make up that kind of time to make its scheduled 7am arrival in the capital.
The crew had a weather forecast for the trip that mentioned strong winds increasing to gale force by the time they reached Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour.
The overnight segment of the trip was largely uneventful, even though it was made in rough conditions.
The weather was bad, and worsening, but the Wahine was a modern ferry equipped to handle testing conditions, with an experienced master Captain Hector Gordon Robertson.
As the Wahine headed north, the fierce Cyclone Giselle was heading south, cutting a destructive path as it headed down the country.
At its peak, the strongest gust ever recorded in New Zealand at that time was measured at about 275kmh (148 knots).
By the time the Wahine was approaching the entrance to Wellington Harbour, Cyclone Giselle merged with another storm front, this one northbound.
The roofs from almost 100 Wellington homes were either ripped off or badly damaged, such was the ferocity of the winds.
Shortly before 6am on April 10, 1968, Captain Robertson made the decision to enter the harbour, while winds were ranging from 100kmh to 155kmh.
By about 6.10am the winds were about 160kmh and the ship’s radar had been disabled because of the rough conditions.
Sailing close to Barrett Reef, only about 1km from shore, a massive wave crashed into the Wahine sending it off course.
The wave was strong enough to knock some passengers off their feet, causing injuries.
The ship was now side-on to the waves. In an attempt to address the situation, in almost zero visibility the ship reversed, hitting the jagged reef.
For the next half an hour the captain and his crew tried in vain to regain control of the ship, which was being bashed against rocks.
The starboard propeller had broken off and there was a large hole low down on the hull. The port engine had stopped working.
With no ability to steer the Wahine, the vessel was effectively drifting around the harbour entrance.
The order was given to shut all watertight doors and to drop the two anchors. With dragging anchors the ship drifted helplessly northward, past Point Dorset. By now the Wahine was only a few hundred metres from the Wellington coastline at Seatoun. But the tremendous force of the wind and waves made it impossible for rescuers to reach the stricken ship, although attempts were made.
Finally, the anchors took effect as the Wahine came to a stop near Steeple Rock, less than 300 metres from shore.
As the ship’s list to starboard started to worsen the order to abandon ship was given shortly before 1.30pm. The list meant only the starboard lifeboats could be used, with the port lifeboats high in the air and unuseable. Only four large lifeboats could be used, along with smaller liferafts.
One liferaft was hit by a wave soon after departing the Wahine, sending those inside it into the sea. Some waves were estimated at six metres high at this stage.
A second and third lifeboat made it to the Seatoun shore, while the fourth headed in the other direction and came ashore at Eastbourne.
Others who were aboard the Wahine, wearing heavy and cumbersome lifejackets, jumped into the water. Captain Robertson and Captain Galloway, the deputy harbourmaster who risked his life by jumping from the vessel Tiakina to the Wahine, were the last two to leave.
About an hour after the ‘‘abandon ship’’ order was given, the Wahine capsized in less than 12 metres of water - some 81⁄ hours after entering the harbour.
Vessels of all sizes helped in the rescue mission, helping pick up many survivors.
About 200 survivors ended up on the Eastbourne side of the harbour.
The vast majority of the deaths on the day happened on that side. It was a difficult place for rescuers to access because of the storm, and people died from exposure and hypothermia in the conditions, while others drowned or were tragically killed on the rocks that dot the coastline. Fifty-one people died on the day. May Brightwell died from her injuries on April 29, 1968, to become the 52nd fatality, while Gordon Hick was the 53rd and final person to die as a result of the disaster when he passed away on October 15, 1990.
Wahine disaster timeline
April 9, 1968 8.43pm The Union Steam Ship Company’s TEV Wahine departs from Lyttelton for Wellington, scheduled arrival time 7am, April 10. April 10, 1968 5am The Wahine bridge log records strong south-southwest gales, a southerly swell, and continual rain, with poor visibility. Wellington Harbour Board’s Beacon Hill Signal Station reports 40-50 knot (74-92kmh) wind from the south; in the inner harbour the southerly is 50 knots gusting to 60 (111kmh). For the next nine hours Wellington will be battered by the worst storm ever recorded in New Zealand history.
5.50am Captain Hector Gordon Robertson verifies the vessel is on the correct course.
6am The Wahine steams towards the harbour entrance. Between Baring and Pencarrow Heads, as she encounters the rising fury of the storm, her radar fails.
6.10am Pencarrow Light is sighted ahead. Captain Robertson reduces speed to about 10 knots (18kmh). The Wahine suddenly sheers about 23 degrees off course to port. The helm, though turned hard to starboard does not respond. Captain Robertson orders full ahead on both engines. The ship lurches heavily to starboard. Personnel on the bridge are thrown off their feet.
6.14am Order given for full steam astern (reverse) on the port engine, to continue the swing to port begun when the vessel sheered. For the next half hour, deprived of radar and in zero visibility, the master attempts to gain control. In the course of manoeuvres, and possibly due to a westerly tidal set, the Wahine no longer has propulsive power.
6.42am Wellington Radio ZLW receives radio telegraph message from the Wahine: ‘‘Going ashore think near the Heads.’’ Ten minutes later Beacon Hill receives message that the Wahine is aground at Barrett Reef.
6.41am-7am All watertight doors ordered closed and both anchors dropped, but due to turbulent seas, this takes about 20 minutes. During this time the Wahine works its way off the reef, sustaining serious damage to the length of its hull.
7am-9am The Wahine is driven northward by storm to the eastern entrance to Chaffers Passage. During this critical and dangerous period the Wahine has marginal stability, extensive flooding and numerous other potential perils. No assistance can be given from harbour or shore, due to the violence of the storm. By 9am the Wahine clears rocks off Point Dorset, and slowly drags her anchors along the western shoreline.
7.40am The tugboat Tapuhi, commanded by Captain Ohlsen, leaves Queen’s Wharf in an attempt to make contact with the Wahine. Earlier, Captain Bill Galloway, deputy harbourmaster and second pilot, directed the launch Tiakina to proceed to Seatoun and await developments. Shortly thereafter, Harbourmaster Captain Ralph Suckling instructs Captain Galloway to join the Tiakina, attempt to reach the Wahine, and board her. For the next two hours the crew of both these vessels show amazing courage battling the full fury of the storm, with winds in excess of 100 knots (185kmh). Both are forced to return to Seatoun.
11am The Wahine reaches a position where her stern is close to Steeple Rock light. Her anchors grip there and hold, though she continues to sheer wildly from side to side.
11am-11.15am The Tiakina and Tapuhi set out again from Seatoun. The wind begins to drop to about 70 knots (130kmh).
11.50am The Tapuhi attempts to establish a towline, but the weather makes this impossible.
12.16pm Captain Suckling hears through Beacon Hill that Captain Galloway has boarded the Wahine from Tiakina, a feat requiring great skill and daring. On board Galloway notices a five-degree list. Half an hour later this has increased to about 25 degrees.
1.20pm Unexpectedly, a tidal flow consistent with an ebbing tide develops, and Galloway notices a lee has developed on the starboard side. Captain Robertson, after a brief discussion, gives the order to abandon ship.
1.25pm Passengers begin to be put in lifeboats and liferafts. Beacon Hill receives message to this effect, and is asked that all trawlers and available small craft be sent to the scene. All 734 people aboard the ship leave alive, but of these 51 lose their lives on the day. (One passenger dies of her injuries later in the year, while Gordon Hick’s death in 1990 is recorded as being the result of the Wahine disaster, the 53rd fatality.) Great bravery is exhibited by both civilian volunteers involved in the rescue efforts, and by the crew of such vessels as Tapuhi, Tiakina, the rail ferry Aramoana, the small coasters Success and Portland, the naval launch Manga, the university research launch Tirohia, as well as numerous small pleasure craft and fishing vessels.
2.15pm-2.30pm The Wahine heels over and crashes heavily to the seabed on her starboard side.
Timeline reproduced with permission of Wellington Museum, home of the Wahine exhibition.