THE SINKING OF THE LAUNCH RANUI
MOUNT MAUNGANUI, BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND
28 DECEMBER 1950

On Thursday 28 December 1950, the pleasure launch Ranui was returning from a trip to Mayor Island when shortly before 6pm, freak waves smashed into and overturned the boat. This was just off Mount Maunganui.

Many of the passengers were thrown in to the water and others went down with launch, trapped in the wheelhouse. Eyewitnesses walking around Mount Maunganui ran for help and tried to rescue those that they could. However the rescuers were soon cut on the jagged rocks and pounded by the surf.

Of the 23 people on board only one survived. He struggled ashore and was lifted by a large wave high over the rocks where he was pulled to safety.

The court of enquiry found no one was to blame and that an exceptionally high wave had capsized the boat when she was well out in the channel. The Ranui was a new vessel, built of Kauri and had only a few weeks of service.

A memorial to the passengers of the Ranui is to be found about 1/2 way around the Mount base walking track. Take a moment to think of those that perished that night.

THOSE THAT DIED WITH THE SINKING OF THE RANUI.
BARTZ Albert Herman 69 Married Gate Pa, Tauranga
BARTZ Gladwell Paul 37 [35] Single Wanganui Son of Mr A H Bartz
BARTZ Idris Howard 24 [33] Married Welcome Bay, Tauranga Son of Mr A H Bartz
BIGGS Joy 22 Single 10 Moerangi St, Palmerston North
BURKE Patricia Rita 19 Single 68 Stanley Road, Gisborne Clerk
CARLSEN [CARLSON] John Reading 72 Married Norfolk St, Ponsonby, Auckland Retired chemist
CARLSEN [CARLSON] Olaf Blomfield 36 [35] Married 5 Kawau Rd, One Tree, Auckland Son of Mr J R Carlsen
DAVIS Llewellyn Bernard 22 [25] Single 5 Hakanoa St, Huntly Fitter and turner
GOODYEAR Margaret Ann 19 Derby St, Gisborne
HANDS Margaret Evelyn 20 Single 109 Abel Smith Street, Wellington
HARNETT Geoffrey 34 Married with 6 children Fraser St, Tauranga Skipper of the Ranui
HUNT Gordon Hugh Grainger 43 Mount Maunganui Temporary crew member
LANG Lindsay Douglas 29 Single Upland Road, Remuera
MOORE Alan Albert 29 Married with 2 children Waipawa, Hawkes Bay
MOORE Ivan Clifford 30 Married Waipawa, Hawkes Bay Garage proprietor
NORMAN Lindsay Edward Walter 46 Married Te Hoe
PENWARDEN Ivan Owen Duvall 43 Married Mangakino Joiner
PENWARDEN Lloyd Wareham 30 Brother of Mr I Penwarden New Plymouth Mechanic
SMITH Harry 42 Married Cameron Road, Tauranga Deckhand on the Ranui
UNGER Ernest Guenther 24 Single 90 River Road, Hamilton Dentist
WILLIAMS Jack Keith 26 Married Dinsdale Rd, Frankton Junction
WILLIS Richard John 30 Married with 2 children Te Puke Yardman



THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE SINKING OF THE RANUI.
SMITH Phillip H G 19 Single Cameron Road, Tauranga Son of Mr Harry Smith

Thanks to Val Gibbons for these photographs.

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