NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS
BRYNDERWYN BUS CRASH
THURSDAY 07 FEBRUARY 1963
On Thursday, 7 February 1963, a bus containing 35 passengers and the driver were making their way south from celebrations at Waitangi (near Paihia) where Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were attending.
On the Brynderwyn Hills between Whangarei and Wellsford, North Auckland the bus brakes failed. Even after valiant attempts by the driver Harold PARKER to slow the bus it hurtled through a wire fence and tumbled down a 30 metre almost vertical slope to the bank of the Piroa Stream. Fifteen people died in New Zealand's worst bus accident to date.
On the 7 February 2003, a monument was unveiled on the banks of the Piroa Stream and is clearly visible to passing traffic.
| ABRAHAM-PAENGANUI [ABRAMS aka PAENGANUI] | Beryl (Beryl Gladys)(Mrs) | 79 | Helensville |
| BIDOIS | Dolly (Dorothy Kiri) (Mrs) | 48 | Te Pua, Helensville |
| KIDWELL | Celia (Cecilia Miriama)(Miss) | 17 | Reweti |
| KIDWELL | Levia Margaret (Mrs) (nee Nathan) | 37 | Reweti |
| KINGI | Ben (Bennie) | 42 | Woodhill, Helensville |
| NATHAN | Miriama (Miri)(Miriam) (Mrs) (nee Abraham) | 55 | Reweti |
| NATHAN | Steve | 69 | 6 Captain Springs Rd, Te Papapa |
| NIELSON | Emma (Mrs) | 52 | 6 Hilary Crescent, Napier |
| POUAKA | Ropata (Rev.) | 63 | 203 Mount Smart Rd, Onehunga |
| POVEY | Ngarotokurua (Molly) (nee Porter) | 52 | Reweti |
| SHEFFIELD | Colleen Margaret (Mrs) | 42 | South End, Helensville |
| TAPENE | Peter (Petera) | 42 | 61 Spring Street, Onehunga, Auckland |
| TARATU aka KAA | Maringi (Mrs) | 80 | Crawford Ave, Mangere, Auckland |
| URUAMO | Eriapa Poata [aka Eddie PORTER] | 76 | Reweti |
| WIAPO | Karaka Anaru(Clark) | 68 | Helensville |
Those injured included:
| BECKETT | Waru (Mrs) | 40 Woodward Ave, Mangere | |
| BROUGHTON | Nukie (Tuihi) | 55 | Carwell Street, Onehunga |
| CLARK | Rangi (Mrs) | 51 | |
| EDWARDS | Livya | 13 | |
| HOPATA (HAUPAPA) | Annette | 15 | |
| KIDWELL | Brian | 13 | |
| KIDWELL | Pute | 12 | |
| MOORE | E (Mrs) | 58 | |
| NATHAN | Lewis | 16 | |
| NATHAN | Parangi | 15 | |
| NEILSON | B (Mrs) | ||
| NODA | Ruby | 58 | 106 Vincent Street, Auckland |
| PARATA | John | 31 | 1141 Dominion Road East, Auckland |
| PARKER | Harold | 46 | Tuakau |
| POVEY | Elizabeth (Mrs) | 30 | |
| ROTA | Wikitoria | 30 | 60 Shelly Beach Road, Ponsonby, Auckland |
| SMITH | Rewia (Mrs) | 52 | |
| TANE | Sophia | 22 | |
| TAPAKUKUTAI | Tuna | 26 | |
| TAPENE | Annie (Mrs) | 61 Spring Street, Onehunga, Auckland | |
| TAPENE | Valmai | 13 | 61 Spring Street, Onehunga, Auckland |
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