Waipapa

In 1876 the William Ackers hit the reef and became a total wreck, with the loss of eight souls.

In 1881 the ship SS Tararua was shipwrecked with the loss of 131 souls, making it the worst sea disaster in New Zealand's history. The Tararua struck the reef at Waipapa Point and although a passenger did manage to swim ashore help was still a long way off, with a young workman from a nearby station having to ride to Wyndham, many miles away with the message, but it was already too late.

In January 1884 the Waipapa Lighthouse was commisioned, three years after the SS Tararua disaster.