1950, Ranui Shipwreck
On December 28, 1950, the passenger launch Ranui capsized and was smashed to pieces on North Rock, Mount Maunganui. Twenty-three people drowned, with only one 19-year-old survivor. The boat was destined for a Mayor Island holiday excursion.
1963, Kaimai Air Crash
All 23 passengers on a National Airways Corporation DC3 flight died when the aircraft crashed into the Kaimai Range on July 3, 1962. During the flight’s descent into Tauranga, the plane was caught in a downdraught and slammed into a ridge. Rescuers took two days to locate and reach the crash site.
1987, Edgecumbe Earthquake
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Bay of Plenty on March 2, 1987. Dozens of people were injured, homes were damaged, and industrial sites were affected. A magnitude 5.2 quake happened before the main shock and aftershocks were felt for weeks.
2004, Awatapu Flooding
About 300 people were evacuated from the Whakatāne suburb Awatapu when earthquakes and days of rain brought flooding to the area. A lagoon that circled the suburb burst its banks, flooding hundreds of houses.
Submerged cars in the Whakatane suburb of Awatapu. Photo / Alan Gibson
2005, Matatā Landslide
Matatā was hit with flooding and a series of landslides on May 18, 2005. Twenty-seven homes were destroyed, and an additional 87 properties were damaged. State Highway 2 and the railway were closed for many days.
2005, Bay of Plenty Floods
During an extreme weather event on May 18, 2005, 400 people were evacuated from the Otāmoetai, Welcome Bay, Pillans Rd/Vale St and Pāpāmoa areas. Tauranga had 309mm of rainfall in 24 hours. Homes and roads faced extensive damage from flooding and landslides.
2011, Ōhope Landslide
Teenager Hugh Biddle died when a landslide engulfed his West End home on June 18, 2011. Torrential rain preceded the landslide. At the time, the Whakatāne District Council described West End Rd, Ōhope, as prone to slips. Rescuers worked for hours with a digger and chainsaws to retrieve 17-year-old Biddle’s body.
2011, Rena Oil Spill
The container ship Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef in the Bay of Plenty on October 5, 2011, becoming the largest ship ever wrecked in New Zealand waters. About 350 tonnes of oil were spilled, and 950 tonnes of oily waste were found on local beaches. Eighty-seven of the 1368 containers were washed overboard, spilling contents into the ocean. Thousands of birds died.
The Awanuia is seen pumping oil from the stricken container ship Rena of the coast off Mount Maunganui. Photo / NZME
2017, Edgecumbe Flood
The stopbank protecting Edgecumbe from the Rangitāiaki River was breached on the morning of April 6, 2017, and flooded the township. Flood waters were 6.19m high. More than 250 homes were severely damaged, more than a dozen destroyed, and 12 houses directly across from the breach were rendered permanently uninhabitable.
2018, Ngongotahā Floods
The village was devastated by flooding after torrential rain in April 2018. A state of emergency was declared, forcing hundreds to evacuate as floodwaters ripped through their homes. Thirty-eight houses were declared unsanitary.
2019, Whakaari/White Island Eruption
One of New Zealand’s active volcanoes, Whakaari/White Island, erupted on December 9, 2019, taking the lives of 22 people. Twenty-five others were injured. The bodies of two victims were not recovered. Whakaari was closed to tourists following the eruption.
Whakaari-White Island erupted in December 2019, resulting in the loss of 22 lives and many severe injuries. Photo / NZME
Editor’s note: This captures some of the major events that have happened since 1950, but is not designed to be an exhaustive list.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.