1 Christmas Eve

New Zealand's worst ever rail disaster occurred at 10:21pm, Christmas Eve, 1953. We explore the unfortunate series of events that led to Ka 949 plunging into the Whangaehu River, and hear from those there that night about the nightmare they witnessed.
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2 The Day After

On Christmas Day, the small nation of New Zealand - hosting the Queen and Prince Philip at the time - awoke to news of the horrific tragedy that was impossible to avoid. For some though, they were waking up to news that their loved ones had perished.
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3 Legacy

1950s New Zealand did their best to put Tangiwai behind them, with rapid repairs and a quick inquiry. Did the inquiry provide the answers the country needed, and how is the disaster being remembered today?
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4 Near Miss

As the years passed, Tangiwai slipped into memory. That's until Mt Ruapehu erupted again in the mid-90s, prompting panic throughout the region - and within Government. So how has the local area changed in the decades since Tangiwai?
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5 What If?

With the information we've learned from authorities and locals, we look at what would happen if the Tangiwai disaster was to happen today, and how quickly - or not - people would respond.
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6 Never Again

70 years since Tangiwai, in a year where natural disasters once again exposed our poor investments in infrastructure, we ask experts if the country truly remembered the lessons of Tangiwai.
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Painting / Barry O’Donnell

KA949 was the steam locomotive pulling the train on the night of the Tangiwai disaster.

Contemporary photos show the utter devastation at the crash scene.

Locals pitched in with professionals for the massive clean-up.

Prince Philip, who was in New Zealand with the Queen at the time of the accident, attends the state funeral service for 21 unidentified victims in Wellington.

Painting / Barry O’Donnell

KA949 was the steam locomotive pulling the train on the night of the Tangiwai disaster.

Contemporary photos show the utter devastation at the crash scene.

Locals pitched in with professionals for the massive clean-up.

Prince Philip, who was in New Zealand with the Queen at the time of the accident, attends the state funeral service for 21 unidentified victims in Wellington.

CREDITS:
Presenter and producer: Hamish Williams
Researcher: Neesha Bremner
Sound engineer: Shaun D Wilson
Production assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te Moana
Executive producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon
Photos: Graham Stewart
Video: Dean Purcell
Design and graphics: Paul Slater

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