I name this ship ‘Wahine’

“I name this ship ‘Wahine’. May God bless her and all who sail in her”

April 10, 1968, lives on in our nation’s consciousness as a day of immense tragedy ― the day that the inter-island ferry, the Wahine, sank in Wellington Harbour taking the lives of 51 of its 610 passengers and 123 crew.

At the time of her loss on 10 April 1968 the T.E.V. Wahine (Turbine Electric Vessel) had been in service for just over 20 months. The ship was named “Wahine” on her launch day by her sponsor Mrs Elsie Macfarlane, wife of the Union Steam Ship Company's Managing Director Mr F K Macfarlane.

Commissioned by the Union Steam Ship Company, the Wahine was purpose-built for the ‘Steamer Express’ service between Wellington and Lyttelton. When she was launched in Scotland in 1965, the Wahine was described as the world’s largest drive-on vehicle and passenger ship. At 149m long she was also one of the largest ferries in the world and she could accommodate 924 passengers in cabins on six decks and in greater comfort than in any of her predecessors.

What happened immediately after the disaster was described in the report prepared by Wellington Harbour Board as detailed in the correspondence files titled ‘Wahine Reports’. These reports contain chronological accounts of what happened on the day and include statements of several key stakeholders like Captain H G Robertson (the captain at the time of disaster), N.Z. Meteorological Service explaining about severe cyclonic storm from 6 – 12 April 1968 and locals who saw the ship sinking from their house.

In August 1974 Wellington Mayor Sir Francis Kitt formally proposed the idea of building the memorial at Breaker Bay. It was designed by sculptor Guy Ngan, the detail of which along with the damage done by Wahine to the wharf and salvage operation can be found in the correspondence file ‘Wahine Disaster 1968 – 1981’.

The sinking of the Wahine was one of the worst naval disasters in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand, but it also truly reflects the collectiveness and spirit of Wellingtonians who always go above and beyond to help in the event of trouble like this. As Captain H G Robertson said during the court of inquiry “Under the conditions, which were extremely trying, I am quite prepared to say they did an excellent job.” p5, Wahine Reports File 1.

For more information on Wahine disaster please click on the external links below. There is a documentary about the disaster which is available on NZ On Screen link.