New Zealand Disasters: Wahine Shipwreck (10 April 1968)

New Zealand's worst modern maritime disaster was the sinking of the Lyttelton to Wellington ferry Wahine on 10 April 1968 during tropical Cyclone Giselle.

Fifty-one people lost their lives that day, another died several weeks later and a 53rd victim died in 1990 from injuries sustained in the wreck.

Three people died on shore as a result of Cyclone Giselle which battered New Zealand on the 9th and 10th of April 1968.

See also:

• List of those who lost their lives http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sooty/wahine.html
• New Zealand History https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/wahine-disaster
• Ship's Telegraph by Clive Keightley https://littleshipclubcanterbury.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/wahine...

Passengers killed:

1. ADAMSON Ross James [Ross James Arthur] 26 Chapman Street, Dunedin
2. BEAR Leah Edith Mrs 62 16 Eltham Avenue, Darling Point, Sydney, Australia
3. BECK Margaret Morrison Mrs 64 47 Harris Crescent, Papanui, Christchurch
4. BRIGHTWELL May Elizabeth Mrs * Died 29 April 1968 from a blood clot in the lung from injuries received during the sinking of the Wahine. Buried at Waimate Lawn Cemetery, Waimate
5. BURTON Frederick 65 Lower Hutt
6. CLARK Elizabeth Ann Miss 72 9 Horner Street, Papanui, Christchurch
7. COHEN Bertha Mrs 64 Darling Point Road, Sydney, Australia
8. COX John Alfred 47 5A Maida Vale Road, Roseneath, Wellington
9. DOIG Cecil Noel 65 Duke Street, Hastings
10. DUNCAN Oswald Colin 60 Piarere, near Tirau, Waikato
11. EMMETT Margaret Mrs 37 137 Vague Road, Christchurch
12. ERIWATA Jessie Elizabeth Mrs 65 2/96 Taylor Street, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland
13. EVANS Olive Daisy Mrs 66 27 Oxford Street, Belmont, Victoria, Australia
14. FOLKARD Cristobel Evelyn Mrs 50 The Esplanade, Raumati South
15. FREITAS David Frank Errol 60 Blake Street, Greymouth
16. GOODMAN Leslie Reginald 65 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland
17. GUTSCHLAG Neil Douglas 20 70 Victoria Avenue, Invercargill
18. HICK Alma Anne Miss 3 48 Vance Street, Shannon
19. HICK Gordon * Died October 1990 from injuries sustained on the 10 April 1968 aged 1 year.
20. HICKMAN Henry Thomas 58 Kermode Street, Ashburton
21. HICKS Philip Stephen 2 7 Titoki Street, Christchurch
22. HILL Maisie Mowat Mrs 63 52 Weka Street, Fendalton, Christchurch
23. HOWARD Kathleen Mrs 74 29 Mandalong Road, Mosman, NSW, Australia
24. HUMPHREY John Baden [John Bader] 50 Marlowe Street, Dunedin
25. JEFFREY Mary Agnes Mrs 71 9 Plymouth Street, Wanganui
26. JOHNSON Colin Raymond 6 11 Lindhurst Avenue, Christchurch
27. LANDRETH Gladys May Mrs 59 8 Norman Street, Dunedin
28. MARSHALL Veda Catherine Mrs 64 14 Ross Street, Mosgiel, Dunedin
29. McKAY Elizabeth Mary Mrs 71 11 Studholme Street, Christchurch
30. McKEE Beatrice Ellen Mrs 72 27 Ngarimu Street, Dallington, Christchurch
31. MERTON Agnes Gertrude Stonyer (Stonehewer) Miss 79 Repton Court, 19 Repton Street, Christchurch
32. METCALF Ann(e) Beatrice Mrs 62 Rangitata, South Canterbury
33. MITCHELL Helen Patterson Mrs 45 111 Russell Street, Dunedin
34. O'LOUGHLIN Rose Annie Mrs 79 Barnard Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
35. PAGE Benjamin Joseph 77 158 Cambridge Street, Levin
36. PAGE Elizabeth Mrs 70 158 Cambridge Street, Levin
37. ROBERTSON Wallace Allen [Wallace Allan] 26 152 Ashley Avenue, New Lynn, Auckland
38. RUTLAND Alfred Gould 77 Manchester Street, Chewton, Victoria, Australia
39. SMITH Margaret Calder Mrs 62 6 Johnston Crescent, Lane Cove, Sydney, Australia
40. TABUTEAU Mary Elizabeth Mrs 64 137 Seymour Street, Traralgan, Victoria, Australia
41. TOWNSEND Brian Richard Churchill 23 53 Hicks Road, Cambridge, Waikato
42. TURNER Ethel May Mrs 50 Dunedin
43. TURNER Truby Lionel 55 Dunedin
44. Wasson, Cecil James
45. WILLIAMSON Beryl Mary Mrs 59 11 Victory Place, Port Chalmers
46. YEE Hong Yue Mr 70 Vivian Street, Wellington

Crew killed:

1. HOUNSELL Howard Alexander 53 Wellington Engine Room Hand
2. MORAH [MORRAH] Christopher John 21 Ranui Terrace, Wellington Assistant Purser
3. MURPHY George Vincent Austin 56 Wellington 1st Class Assistant Steward
4. ROSS John Spencer 33 5 Corinna Street, Porirua, Wellington Pantryman
5. SAYERS Laurie Angus 29 Lucienne Park, Christchurch. Able Seaman (Travelling unofficially)
6. SYMONS Samuel Stewart 55 Broadway, Miramar, Wellington Motorman
7. UDELL Robin Lester 21 Kinglsey Terrace, Sumner, Christchurch Officer Steward

Cyclone Giselle killed:

1. BAIN Herbert Athol 46 Hutt Valley, Wellington
2. BELLIS Deborah Christine 7 Wellington
3. TAYLOR Clarence William 60 Mangonui, Northland

Survivors: [work in progress]

1. Ewan, Muriel
2. Ewan, Rob
3. Gatland, Arthur Gregory (Tauranga)
4. Gatland, Edna Mavis (Tauranga)
5. Henderson, Kath
6. Robinson, Frank
7. Robertson, Hector Gordon (Wahine Captain)
8. Spiers, Stan
9. Stewart, Russell
10. Woolf, Ada