Tangiwai: A Forgotten History The New Zealand Herald

In this bonus episode of Tangiwai: A Forgotten History, we head back to the scene of the accident as the 70th anniversary is marked in an official ceremony.

And, in the weeks after the series was released, dozens of people have contacted us with their own stories from December 24th, 1953, and we share those stories here.Our thanks to all those involved in organising the memorial and the train service there. 

Guests:John MahyCallum MahyRaymond OshanassyJohn ArcherRuth GreenJoan HumphriesKeith Howells 

Presenter and producer: Hamish WilliamsSound engineer: Shaun D WilsonResearcher: Neesha BremnerExecutive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon

Select music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

70 years since Tangiwai, in a year where natural disasters once again exposed our poor investments in infrastructure, we ask experts if the country truly remembered the lessons of the Tangiwai disaster.

Guests:Nick LeggettDr Samaneh MadanianGail PachecoLiam WotherspoonMax Rashbrooke 

Presenter and producer: Hamish WilliamsSound engineer: Shaun D WilsonResearcher: Neesha BremnerProduction assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te MoanaExecutive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon

Select music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the information we've learned from authorities and locals, Hamish looks at what would happen if the Tangiwai disaster was to happen today, and how quickly - or not - people would respond.

Guests:Chris CarterAndrew ChambersColonel Trevor WalkerBrad ScottMatt CareySenior Constable Conrad SmithKyle MacDonald

Presenter and producer: Hamish WilliamsResearcher: Neesha BremnerSound engineer: Shaun D WilsonProduction assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te MoanaExecutive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon

Select music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the years passed, Tangiwai slipped into memory. That's until Mt Ruapehu erupted again in the mid-90s, prompting panic throughout the region - and within Government. So how has the local area changed in the decades since Tangiwai?

Guests:Weston KirtonIan MckelvieAndrew Chambers Don AlabasterJohn ChapmanChris CarterHollei Gabrielson

Presenter and producer: Hamish WilliamsResearcher: Neesha BremnerSound engineer: Shaun D WilsonProduction assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te MoanaExecutive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon

Select music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1950s New Zealand did their best to put Tangiwai behind them, with rapid repairs and a quick inquiry. Did the inquiry provide the answers the country needed, and how is the disaster being remembered today?

Guests:Graeme StewartBob NorlingIan HeppeJim McAloonHollei GabrielsonJohn MahyCallum MahyIan McKelvie

Presenter and producer: Hamish WilliamsResearcher: Neesha BremnerSound engineer: Shaun D WilsonProduction assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te MoanaExecutive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew LaxonSelect music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Christmas Day, the small nation of New Zealand - hosting the Queen and Prince Philip at the time - awoke to news of the horrific tragedy that was impossible to avoid. For some though, they were waking up to news that their loved ones had perished.

Guests:Jim McAloonGraeme StewartJohn MahyBeryl DonovanDon Alabaster

Presenter and producer: Hamish WilliamsResearcher: Neesha BremnerSound engineer: Shaun D WilsonProduction assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te MoanaExecutive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew LaxonSelect music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.