KEY POINTS:
Disasters and multiple tragedies in New Zealand waters in recent history include:
Nov/Dec, 2005: Nelson fishing boat Mi Jay disappears at sea with three men on board.
Aug 2, 2003: A runabout sinks on a fishing trip off Foxton Beach; the three men on board die.
May 11, 2003: The pleasure craft Time Out capsizes south of Oamaru; three men die and two survive.
Aug 19, 1998: A Cessna 402 with 10 people on board crashes in Foveaux Strait on a flight from Stewart Island to Invercargill airport. Four passengers and the pilot drown in the freezing waters, but five passengers are rescued. The body of 7-year-old Russell Chisholm was never recovered.
Dec 29, 1996: Four drown after fishing trawler Maria Luisa and container ship Sydney Express collide in Wellington Harbour channel close to where the interisland ferry Wahine sank.
Nov 24, 1995: Korean freighter Pan Grace slams into American yacht sailed by Sleavin family off Northland; three members of the family die but wife and mother Judith Sleavin survives.
June 6, 1983: Racing yacht Lion Heart founders in heavy seas off Whangaroa, killing seven.
April 10, 1968: Interisland ferry Wahine sinks at Wellington Harbour entrance in violent storm; 51 die.
May 23, 1966: Kaitawa, carrying a cargo of coal, wrecked in heavy seas at Cape Reinga; all 29 on board die.
Jan 27-29, 1951: Yachts Argo and Husky lost in Cook Strait during Wellington-Lyttelton race, with 10 lives lost.
- NZPA
