MT EREBUS

My day in the national newsroom of Radio New Zealand on Wednesday November 28, 1979 passed without incident. I knew that the Air New Zealand scenic flight to the Antarctic was taking place, amid much hoo-hah and publicity ballyhoo. But like everyone else I had no reason to think that it was anything other than safe.

After all, this was Air New Zealand, our airline, an airline that had never suffered a crash. (NAC had had accidents and fatalities, but not the international airline.)

Shortly after 6pm, I caught a bus home as usual. My wife was a secondary school teacher at the time, and she had a parent–teacher evening. I knew she would be late home.

I settled down in my comfy chair and listened to the 7pm news before fixing dinner. That bulletin included a newsreader saying that nothing had been heard from the Antarctic flight for some time and that concern was mounting.

I called the newsroom and agreed to return to work. The national newsroom in the old Broadcasting House at the foot of The Terrace in Wellington was starting to buzz. A big story was afoot, although none of us realised just