Just as its crew managed to attached a line to the stricken ferry, high seas tore her away.
In the chaos of the storm, the Tapuhi and other boats involved in the rescue are recorded as bringing 174 people, including four children, safely ashore.
Of the 734 passengers and crew on board, 51 people lost their lives that day. Now, the Tapuhi's helm, or steering wheel, is due to go under the hammer at Cordy's Auctioneers.
The ten spoke 183cm wheel weighs more than 40kgs and features a brass banding and hub.
It was removed from the historic vessel before it was removed from service and sunk in Vanuatu in 1990.
Auctioneer Andrew Grigg said the wheel, which features in next Tuesday's auction, is expected to fetch more than $4200.
It is one of a number of "really special" New Zealand historical items, he said.
Other unusual lots include an elephant's tooth, a Fijian chief's whales tooth pendant, a white rabbit, and a stuffed badger.
"We certainly have the weird and wonderful covered," Mr Grigg said.
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