SS Tararua was a passenger steamer that struck the reef off Waipapa Point in the Catlins on 29 April 1881, and sank the next day, in the worst civilian shipping disaster in New Zealand's history.

[4] Sailing from Port Chalmers, Dunedin at 5 pm on 29 April 1881, the Tararua was en route to Melbourne via Bluff and Hobart.

George Lawrence got in a boat and then jumped into the waves to swim ashore to warn a man who was named Charles Gilbee who rode his horse to Wyndham to send a message.

A court of inquiry found that the disaster was primarily caused by the ship's captain failing to establish his correct position at 4 am, before changing course to head west.

[3] The court recommended that steamers should carry enough lifebelts for all their passengers (there were only twelve on the Tararua) and that a lighthouse should be built at Waipapa Point.

The Tararua had a narrow escape on a previous voyage in 1865, suffering no damage after grounding on a beach at Cape Farewell.