List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll

This is a list of New Zealand disasters by death toll, listing major peacetime disasters which occurred in New Zealand and its territories or involved a significant number of New Zealand citizens, in a specific incident, where the loss of life was 10 or more.

100 or more deaths

DeathsNameTypeDateLocationNotesAir New Zealand Flight 901 Airliner accidentMount Erebus, Ross Island, AntarcticaControlled flight into terrainBateman New Zealand Encyclopedia, edition 4 (1995). Article: |earthquake 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, Hawke's Bay region, Napier A larger death toll of 258 includes two missing, presumed dead.1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake Earthquake20 km north of Napier+1820s Southland tsunami TsunamisOrepuki beachPossibly more than 200 killed Shipwreck Off Manukau Heads, near Auckland 2011 Christchurch earthquake Earthquake ChristchurchTangiwai disaster Railway derailment due to a lahar damaging a bridgeWhangaehu River+Waihi Landslide , GeoNet News, Vol. 2, February 2003, p. 7. Death toll calculated by subtracting death tolls for two later landslides (64 and 1 in 1846 and 1910 respectively) from the total of "more than 200" given for all three.1st Little Waihi landslide LandslideWaihi Village Shipwreck Off Waipapa Point Shipwreck Off Great Barrier Island–153The eruption's death toll is uncertain. While 153 is a commonly quoted figure, only 108 named victims have been identified. Death list , Anheizen.com.In 2007, the General Manager of the Earthquake Commission said that "... Ngati Hinemihi oral accounts put the death toll in the thousands." David Middleton (2007). A Roof Over Their Heads? The challenge of accommodation following disasters 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera Volcanic eruptionMount Tarawera

50 to 99 deaths

DeathsName or descriptionTypeDateLocationNotesFiery Star Shipwreck240 km off the Chatham IslandsSS Penguin Shipwreck Off Cape TerawhitiFive more died before the survivors were rescued 18 months later.General Grant ShipwreckAuckland Island10 castaways survived the wreck and were successfully rescued.Brunner Mine disaster Mine explosionBrunnerLamorna Cooper, Hipaua Steaming Cliffs and Little Waihi Landslide, Tephra, Vol. 19, June 2002, 42–47.2nd Little Waihi Landslide LandslideWaihi Village Tribal leader Mananui Te Heuheu Tukino II and most of his family were killed in the landslideThe original Wahine death toll was 51; two names were added 22 and 40 years later. Six more people were killed by Cyclone Giselle elsewhere in New Zealand. Shipwreck Barrett Reef, Wellington HarbourCity of Dunedin Shipwreck Off Cape Terawhiti There are estimates of between 250 and 600 passengers perishing, but these reports were 20 or more years later+Blizzard and Flood of 1863 Floods and blizzards – Central Otago goldfields The actual death toll was probably higher because of the transient nature of the miners and the ruggedness of the country Christchurch mosque shootings Terrorist attack Christchurch

10 to 49 deaths

DeathsName or descriptionTypeDateLocationNotes Featherston Prisoner of war camp riot Riot Featherston SS Elingamite Shipwreck Off West Island in the Three Kings Islands Ralph Mine disaster Mine explosionHuntly Methane and coal dust explosionNew Zealand Disasters – Mining: Ralph's Mine, Christchurch City LibrariesBallantynes fire FireChristchurch+New Zealand disasters timeline, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.Great storm of 1868, flash floods and 12 shipwrecksGreat storm of 1868, flash floods and 12 shipwrecks StormPredominantly eastern areas of New Zealand Death toll likely understated as impact on many Māori unknownSeacliff Lunatic Asylum FireSeacliffKaitangata Mine disaster Mine explosion Kaitangata Explosion of fire-damp (methane)Disasters and Mishaps – Shipwrecks, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 18 September 2007.SS Taiaroa ShipwreckWaiau Toa / Clarence River mouthDunedin, which cites W.H. Brett's White Wings: Fifty years of sail in the New Zealand Trade, Vol. I. 1925.Dunedin Shipwreck (presumed) Between Oamaru and LondonMarlborough Shipwreck (presumed) Between Lyttelton and LondonMV Kaitawa Shipwreck Near Pandora Bank, Cape ReingaPike River Mine disaster Mine explosion Northwest of Greymouth Large methane explosionBarque Maria ShipwreckCape Terawhiti+The Wreck of The "Zuleika", Palliser Bay. Quotes from NZ Truth, 16 March 1976.Storm of 1897 Floods and shipwreckNorth Island Flooding at Clive, boating accidents, and the wreck of the Zuleika near Cape Palliser. 25 confirmed deaths and 6 unconfirmed All 25 on board were missing when the boat was found, and are presumed dead. MV Joyita Ghost ship En route from Apia, Samoa to TokelauAssaye Shipwreck (presumed) Between London and Wellington; wreckage washed up at the Chatham Islands 7 months after the ship left London New Zealand National Airways Corporation Flight 441 Air accident Kaimai Rangeslaunch Ranui Shipwreck Off Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption Volcanic eruptionWhakaari/White Island Brigantine Sophia Pate ShipwreckKaipara HarbourNew Zealand Disasters – Kopuawhara flood, Christchurch City Libraries. Kopuawhara flash flood of 1938 FloodDestroyed the Kopuawhara railway workers campHyde railway disaster Rail accident Near Hyde+Tsunami from 1868 Arica earthquake TsunamiChatham Islands Schooner St. Vincent ShipwreckPalliser BayRNZAF Douglas C-47 disappearance Air accident En route from VanuatuNew Zealand Disasters – Strongman Mine Explosion, Christchurch City Libraries.Strongman Mine Mine explosion Near GreymouthRotorua. Terrible boat disaster — Eighteen natives drowned, Daily Southern Cross| volume=XXVI| issue=3953, 23 April 1870, Page 4 Canoe on Lake Rotorua Boating accident Near Mokoia Island on Lake RotoruaClyde, Dive New Zealand Magazine.Clyde ShipwreckHorseshoe Bay, near Akaroa, Banks PeninsulaCasualties, Evening Star | issue=11329, 25 August 1900, Page 8 Canoe on Motu River Boating accidentMotu River – 25 miles from OpotikiThere were 16 children and 2 adults in the six person canoe Ketch Enterprise and steamer Tauranga Shipwreck Between Cape Rodney and Sail Rock, Hauraki GulfThose lost — fourteen crew and four passengers — all came from the Tauranga. The crew of the Enterprise survived in the ship's longboat.Ingram, C. W. N., and Wheatley, P. O., (1936) Shipwrecks: New Zealand disasters 1795–1936. Dunedin, NZ: Dunedin Book Publishing Association. pp. 170–171.The Lastingham Wreck, Paul's Dive Planet.Lastingham ShipwreckCape Jackson, Cook StraitOngarue railway disaster Rail accidentOngarueEileen McSaveney, Historic earthquakes – The 1929 Arthur's Pass and Murchison earthquakes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 21 September 2007. Accessed 2008-01-05.1929 Murchison earthquake EarthquakeMurchison1943 Liberator crash at Whenuapai Air accidentWhenuapai Those killed were mainly Japanese civilians who were being repatriated in a prisoner exchange.Whananaki Coastal WalkCapitaine Bougainville ShipwreckWhananakiLockheed Lodestar airliner crash Air accident Near WaikanaeDisasters and Mishaps – Shipwrecks – Holmglen, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 18 September 2007.MV Holmglen Shipwreck Near TimaruNew Zealand Disasters – Brynderwyns bus accident, Christchurch City Libraries.Brynderwyns bus accident Road accidentBrynderwyn HillsDerry Castle ShipwreckEnderby Island, Auckland IslandsWeekly Feature – Early settler had leading role , Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 2003.Disastrous flood at the Hutt - 14 lives lost, Daily Southern Cross, 16 February 1858, Page 3Hutt River flood FloodsHutt ValleyTwo Hudson bombers lost off the New Zealand coast Air accident En route from FijiNo. 4 Squadron RNZAF[13 murder victims plus perpetrator]Aramoana massacre Spree killingAramoana, near Dunedin Cave Creek disaster Structural failure Paparoa National ParkTasmania ShipwreckMāhia PeninsulaDisasters and Mishaps – Shipwrecks – Ventnor, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, updated 18 September 2007. The cargo included the remains of 499 Chinese miners who had died in NZ and whose remains were being repatriated. The wreck was discovered in December 2012.102-year-old SS Ventnor shipwreck mystery revealed.SS Ventnor Shipwreck Off Omapere, HokiangaNAC Electra air crash Air accident On Mount RuapehuL'Alcmène ShipwreckBaylys Beach, KaiparaA French navy corvetteWreck information , Quay Stuff. Ferry Pride of the Yarra and paddle steamer Favourite CollisionOtago HarbourCafe Chantant fire, The Octagon, Dunedin FireDunedinBarque Lizzie Bell ShipwreckWaimate, TaranakiThree more died before being rescued. Barque Dundonald ShipwreckDisappointment Island, Auckland IslandsBrigantine Rio Loge Shipwreck (presumed)Last seen in Cook Strait on 14 January, en route from Kaipara to DunedinMay have caused the wreck of the Penguin a month later.Eight destructive New Zealand storms, Marilynn McLachlan, New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 4:00 PM Friday 14 March 2014 Retrieved 26 January 2016 Cyclone of 1936 Storm North Island and upper South Island A tropical cyclone that originated near the Solomon Islands Glen Afton No. 1 mine Coal mine fireHuntly 11 miners, including the mine manager, died from carbon monoxide asphyxiaB17 bomber crash Air accidentRNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai2012 Carterton hot air balloon crash Air accident Near CartertonCyclone Gabrielle Cyclone–North Island and northern South IslandAdd them to the list: Underwater survey discovers new wrecks in Marlborough Sounds, Oliver Lewis, Stuff.co.nz, Last updated 12:42, 1 September 2017, retrieved 1 September 2017Shamrock sailing boat ShipwreckQueen Charlotte SoundCapsized and sank. Exact location unknown.Brig Australia Shipwreck Off Cape CampbellWhite Island sulphur mine Lahar following volcano crater wall collapseWhakaari/White Island No bodies found.Husky and Argo lost to storm in yacht race Shipwrecks Between Wellington and ChristchurchAspiring Air Britten-Norman Islander, collided with terrain Air crashUpper Dart Valley10January 2026 New Zealand storms Weather–Upper North Island Landslides and flooding

NOTE: The exact number of deaths in some early New Zealand shipwrecks is not fully recorded. There may be several shipwrecks not listed here which claimed ten or more lives.

Significant incidents resulting in fewer than 10 deaths DeathsName or descriptionTypeDateLocationNotes91855 Wairarapa earthquake EarthquakeLake Wairarapa92010 Fox Glacier FU-24 crash Air accidentFox Glacier71941 Kowhitirangi shootings Spree killing–Kowhitirangi, near Hokitika Four police officers and three civilians killed7Cyclone Bola Cyclone–North Island7Mangatepopo Canyon disaster FloodTongariro National Park72015 Fox Glacier helicopter crash Air accidentFox Glacier6Raurimu massacre Spree killingRaurimu5Loafers Lodge fire FireNewtown, WellingtonDetermined to be arson Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 Air accident Tararua Range, near Palmerston North42023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods Flood– Upper North Island31968 Inangahua earthquake Earthquake Near Inangahua Junction32023 Auckland shooting ShootingAuckland CBD21966 Air New Zealand DC-8 crash Air accident Near Auckland Airport2Air New Zealand Flight 4374 Air accident Near Auckland Airport2Airwork Flight 23 Air accident Near Stratford22010 Canterbury earthquake Earthquake Near Darfield22016 Kaikōura earthquake Earthquake Near Waiau11987 Edgecumbe earthquake Earthquake Near Edgecumbe

Pandemics and health crises DeathsDescriptionDateLocationNotes 1918 flu pandemic 1918 October–December Nationwide 4,624COVID-19 pandemic 2020 February–ongoing NationwideTotal deaths attributed to COVID-19 as at 13 April 2025. (Statistics updated weekly.) HIV/AIDS pandemic 1983–ongoing Nationwide As of 2023.692009 swine flu pandemic2009 April–September Nationwide

Significant incidents of New Zealanders being killed overseas