On July 3, 1963, Flight 441 from Whenuapai (northwest of Auckland) to Tauranga crashed into the Kaimai Ranges just south of Te Aroha. Twenty three people – 20 passengers and three crew – perished. To this day it is New Zealand’s worst domestic air accident.
The memorial for this crash sits just south of the T-intersection at Gordon. On July 3 earlier this year a crowd of people gathered at the memorial to remember the crash 50 years on. It was a sombre experience.
