Skip to main content
Search form
Search
TODAY IN HISTORY
See more
1855, Massive earthquake hits southern North Island
Jan
23
Topics
Events
People
Places
Home
Events
12 February
12 February
1909
SS
Penguin
wrecked in Cook Strait
The Picton-Wellington ferry SS
Penguin
struck rocks in Cook Strait and sank in heavy seas off a rugged, isolated coast. Only 30 of the 102 people on board survived.
Read more...
This Week in History
18 January
1980
'Montego Bay' hits number one
19 January
1845
Hōne Heke cuts down the British flagstaff - again
20 January
1957
Scott Base opens in Antarctica
21 January
1859
Ice comes to Nelson
22 January
1840
European settlers arrive in Wellington
23 January
1855
Massive earthquake hits southern North Island
24 January
1865
British troops invade south Taranaki