It was on April 10th 1968, as Cyclone Giselle was bearing down on Wellington, that the Interisland ferry Wahine ran aground on Barrett Reef. 

A total of 52 passengers died, while rescuers - both professional and amateur - saved the lives of just under 700 others found in the harbour or along it's shores. 

Wellington Mornings dug into the archives and found reporting from the day. 

LISTEN ABOVE