New Zealand experienced its worst-ever storm in April 1968 when Cyclone Giselle met a cold front from Antarctica over the islands and the two merged. The resulting tempest became known as the Wahine Storm.
On land, winds gusted at up to 150mph. Thousands of trees were uprooted and buildings damaged. 98 roofs were torn off houses in one Wellington suburb alone, and there was significant flooding.
The inter-island ferry Wahine was blown off course, running into a reef while trying to enter Wellington harbour. Captain Hector Robertson ordered the seven hundred passengers and crew to stay on board. The ship lost power and attempts to tow her failed. Wahine started to list dangerously and was abandoned just before she capsized, all within sight of the land. Fifty-three people died of drowning, exposure or from being thrown on to rocks by the high seas. The tragedy was one of the first to be covered live on television.
A subsequent inquest exonerated the captain of any blame, finding that he had taken the best possible course of action. His decision to delay abandoning ship for as long as possible had saved lives; the real cause of the tragedy was the violence of the storm.
