Disasters

New Zealand disasters timeline

New Zealand disasters timeline

A chronology of natural disasters, transport accidents, fires, mining accidents and other tragedies that have caused major loss of life more...

February 2011 Christchurch earthquake

February 2011 Christchurch earthquake

At 12.51 p.m. on 22 February 2011, Canterbury was struck by a large earthquake which caused massive devastation and the loss of 185 lives. more...

Pike River mine disaster

Pike River mine disaster

There have been over 200 recorded deaths from nine seperate coal mine explosions in New Zealand, the most recent of which was at the Pike River mine in November 2010. more...

2010 Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake

2010 Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake

An overview and detailed timeline of the events of 4 September 2010 when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Canterbury more...

Tangiwai disaster

Tangiwai disaster

On Christmas Eve 1953 the Wellington–Auckland night express plunged into the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai. 151 passengers and crew died in New Zealand’s worst railway accident. more...

Wahine disaster

Wahine disaster

The loss of the Wellington–Lyttelton ferry Wahine on 10 April 1968 is New Zealand's worst modern maritime disaster. more...

Erebus disaster

Erebus disaster

237 passengers and 20 crew were killed when Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the side of Mt Erebus, Antarctica on 28 November 1979 more...

The 1918 influenza pandemic

The 1918 influenza pandemic

They called it 'Black November'. What really happened in 1918 when more than 8000 New Zealanders perished during a lethal flu pandemic? more...

Responding to tragedy

Responding to tragedy

Police have always been at the heart of disaster rescue efforts because of their nation-wide 24-hour presence and communications network more...