Never-before-seen footage of New Zealand's worst modern maritime disaster has been released.
The Wahine ferry sank in Wellington Harbour 44 years ago today, killing 53 people.
ONE News got hold of the newly processed film recording the accident.
The footage, on silent film, was captured by a Wellington airport fireman from a boat alongside the abandoned ferry two days after it ran onto rocks at the entrance to Wellington Harbour in a fierce storm.
It was close as any camera came to the disaster.
ONE News reporter Heather du Plessis-Allan showed the footage to Wahine survivor Fraser Thomas.
"It just brought back the memories of that day and what we went through, not only me but everybody else," said Thomas.
Thomas, who was a steward on the Union Company ferry, found safety on a rubber life raft.
The Slim family, who owned the camera, never got around to processing the footage until now. It has been given to Wellington's City and Sea Museum to screen.
With all the artefacts from the Wahine in one place, the museum has become aN unofficial memorial where survivors gather every year on this day.