10 Apr 2018

Wahine memorial unveiled in Wellington

From Morning Report, 6:18 am on 10 April 2018

It's 50 years today since the interisland ferry, Wahine, sank in Wellington Harbour, leading to the death of 53 passengers. The ship carrying 734 passengers and crew, and one stowaway hit Barrett Reef about 20 to 7 in the morning. It wasn't until 10am that people realised the ferry was really in trouble. Reporter Dick Wauchop from the NZBC - as RNZ was then - watched the tragedy unfoold from a spit of land in Seatoun no more than a few hundred metres from the stricken Wahine.