A holiday excursion to Mayor Island in the Bay of Plenty ended tragically on the evening of 28 December 1950 when 23 persons were drowned after the 45 ft passenger launch Ranui capsized and was smashed to pieces on North Rock, Mt. Maunganui, Tauranga. There was only one survivor, a 19-year-old youth. It was all over in a matter of moments and nothing could be done to help anyone on board. A Marine Court could find no fault with master or owners, and found that the disaster was caused by a single exceptionally high wave in a violent sea flinging the small craft on to the rocks.