Story: Bay of Plenty region

The Kaimai tunnel

This photograph shows the eastern portal of the 8.9-kilometre Kaimai tunnel at Apata, 16 kilometres from Tauranga. The construction of the tunnel was marred by tragedy: four men lost their lives when part of the tunnel collapsed on 24 February 1970.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAVK W3493, Drawer 48, D37.359

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Bay of Plenty region – Depression and recovery: 1930s to 1970s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5633/the-kaimai-tunnel (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2016.

Comments

Jamie Maxwell
11 March 2025

Alfred Thomas Leighton was my mums 1st cousin.