Shipwreck The Wreck of the Orpheus
On 7 February 1863, the worst maritime disaster in New Zealand history occurred. British warship HMS Orpheus ran aground on a notorious sandbar at Manukau Heads, with the loss of 189 of the 259 onboard. Midshipman Butler, the only man on board who had steered a ship over the treacherous bar, was under arrest and in the brig. His pleas to alter course were ignored and the result was the loss of 189 lives.
Paul Gittins presents a series that recounts tales of danger, courage and calamity on New Zealand waters. Gittins tells "personal stories of settlers, travellers, sailors and traders, people whose lives were changes forever in one moment of peril at sea."
Primary Title
- Shipwreck
Episode Title
- The Wreck of the Orpheus
Date Broadcast
- Sunday 2 April 2000
Start Time
- 19 : 00
Finish Time
- 19 : 30
Duration
- 30:00
Series
- 1
Episode
- 2
Channel
- TV One
Broadcaster
- Television New Zealand
Programme Description
- Paul Gittins presents a series that recounts tales of danger, courage and calamity on New Zealand waters. Gittins tells "personal stories of settlers, travellers, sailors and traders, people whose lives were changes forever in one moment of peril at sea."
Episode Description
- On 7 February 1863, the worst maritime disaster in New Zealand history occurred. British warship HMS Orpheus ran aground on a notorious sandbar at Manukau Heads, with the loss of 189 of the 259 onboard. Midshipman Butler, the only man on board who had steered a ship over the treacherous bar, was under arrest and in the brig. His pleas to alter course were ignored and the result was the loss of 189 lives.
Classification
- PGR
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand
- Shipwrecks--New Zealand
- New Zealand--History
- Orpheus (Ship)--History
- Shipwrecks--New Zealand--Manukau Heads
Genres
- Documentary
- History
Hosts
- Paul Gittins (Presenter)
Contributors
- Tony Manson (Producer)
- Greenstone Pictures (Production Unit)
- TV One (Production Unit)
Subjects
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand
- Shipwrecks--New Zealand
- New Zealand--History
- Orpheus (Ship)--History
- Shipwrecks--New Zealand--Manukau Heads