Wahine remembered

To commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the sinking of the Wahine on Saturday April 10, the Museum of Wellington City & Sea will be hosting a day of events.

On the day, the Museum is the departure point for two buses provided by Hutt City Council, leaving at 9.30am for the public opening of the new Wahine mast memorial at Korohiwa Bay, Eastbourne with speeches by Ken Scadden, maritime historian, and Frank Hitchens, Wahine crewmember, there is also an opportunity for members of the public to say a few words.

Buses will return to the Museum at 12.30pm and whilst there is no charge for this service, there is a first in, first reserved policy. With a limited number of seats available, bookings are essential and can be made by contacting the Museum.

The award winning documentary, The Wahine Disaster by Sharon Barbour, will screen in the Museum’s historic boardroom on the hour from 11am with the last screening occurring at 4pm.

This feature length documentary details the tragic events of April 10 1968 and includes moving accounts from both survivors and their rescuers – some of whom had never been interviewed before. It also features animation which illustrates, for the first time, how the Wahine came to be one of New Zealand's worst sea tragedies.

The Museum will be showcasing a Survivor Art show in its new gallery space. This unique display features works by survivors Kay McCormick, David Hick, photographs featuring Shirley Hick by Helen Mitchell and a painting by T. W. Parata – a police officer who was on board that fateful day.

The original Wahine bell located in the Museum’s permanent Wahine exhibition space will also be rung every half hour from 10am to 5pm, marking the passage of time at sea.

Photo courtesy of Dominion Sunday Times.

Event listed by museumofwellington

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