1963 Brynderwyn bus accident

Bus crash near Brynderwyn, New Zealand killing 15 people April 2021 1963 Brynderwyn bus accident 36 04 45.7 S 174 25 34.1 E title 1963 02 07 y 13:00 Pilbrow Hill, Brynderwyn Range New Zealand Waikato Services Ltd. Brake failure 35 1 15 21 The 1963 Brynderwyn bus accident occurred on the day after Waitangi Day, 7 February 1963, when a bus rolled down a slope in the Brynderwyn Range, killing 15 people. To date, it is the deadliest road accident in New Zealand history.Leask Anna 7 February 2013 Brynderwyn tragedy: The nightmare never fades https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/brynderwyn-tragedy-the-nightmare-never-fades/XUWKDTAJHQIPU5RYWBVMMI7SFI/ The New Zealand Herald 25 April 2021 Background The 1963 Waitangi Day celebrations in Waitangi, Northland, were attended by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.McLintock Alexander H 1966 The 1963 Tour An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/royal-visits/page-10 A bus was chartered by the Māori Affairs Department to carry 35 passengers to and from the celebrations.https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/12211245726 Sketch map of the Brynderwyn accident 30 January 2014 Flickr Archives New Zealand 25 April 2021 All of the passengers were Māori from the wider Auckland area, many from the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara iwi.McLintock Alexander H 1966 Waitangi Day Bus Accident, 1963 An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/disasters-and-mishaps-road Some were part of a kapa haka delegation that performed for the Queen at Waitangi.Clent Danielle 9 August 2017 Fatal bus crash killed four of her family - but it's time to let go https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/nor-west-news/95523952/fatal-bus-crash-killed-four-of-her-family--but-its-time-to-let-go Stuff 25 April 2021 The bus, owned by Waikato Services Ltd., was driven by 46-year-old Harold Parker. Fifteen died in Brynderwyn tragedy Northern Advocate Whangarei, NZ 8 February 1963 dmy Accident The bus departed Paihia on the morning of 7 February.https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/brynderwyns/ Brynderwyns bus accident n.d. Christchurch City Council Libraries 25 April 2021 The accident occurred after 1:00 pm, when the bus was traversing the Brynderwyn Ranges section of State Highway 1, between the towns of Waipu and Kaiwaka. The bus had just finished a break at the summit of Pilbrow Hill. As the bus started to descend down the southern face of the hill, the service brakes on the bus failed. Following this, Parker attempted to steer the bus through the remainder of the downhill section. The bus left the road on the final bend of the hill, plummeting some 30 m down the valley of the Piroa Stream. Aftermath and legacy The Snelling family, who owned a farm nearby and had heard the accident, were the first to reach the wreckage. Additionally, a party of 5 members from the Auckland District Māori Council, who had also been travelling on the road, assisted with the initial response. 14 people were initially killed by the accident. 7 February 2013 Don Milne: Horrendous sight of 14 bodies laid out in a line https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/don-milne-horrendous-sight-of-14-bodies-laid-out-in-a-line/J3WVSK7IQM77QZSJILLVVRSDFI/ The New Zealand Herald 25 April 2021 Another person later died from their injuries, resulting in a death toll of 15. The remaining 21 injured were taken to Whangarei Hospital by 3:30 pm. Following the accident, the Queen sent a message of condolence to Prime Minister Keith Holyoake, asking him to "convey [Prince Philip and I's] sympathy to the injured and the next-of-kin of those who lost their lives in the bus." A commission of inquiry was held by the Department of Transport in April 1963, which concluded that the accident was caused by brake failure. Regulations for passenger service vehicle construction were subsequently changed sixteen months later. The communities of Onehunga and Māngere were strongly impacted by the accident, as many of the passengers were members of the community. Tangihanga were held at Onehunga, which were attended by Prime Minister Keith Holyoake and opposition leader Walter Nash.Blaine Hoete Tina Kaiawe Te Puea Memorial Marae 1965-2015 Te Puea Memorial Marae 2nd 2015 Richards Whaanau Koorero: Irene Roberts 59–63 Seeing the difficulty that the communities had in arranging the tangi, Holyoake and Nash agreed to co-fund a marae in the area. This led to the construction of Te Puea Memorial Marae in Māngere Bridge, Auckland, which was opened in 1965.Opening Te Puea Memorial Marae, Mangere, 1965 02755 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/35560/rec/32 10 February 2022 A memorial stone was unveiled at the scene location on 7 February 2003, on the 40th anniversary of the accident.https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/brynderwyn-disaster-memorial Brynderwyn bus disaster memorial 20 December 2012 New Zealand History Ministry for Culture and Heritage 25 April 2021 References Category:1963 road incidents Category:February 1963 in Oceania Category:1963 in New Zealand Category:1963 disasters in New Zealand