Waimangu Geyser: Scene of Recent Terrible Catastophe🌋

Feb 13, 2026

David McNaughton was accidentally killed on the 30th August 1903. David and three others were killed when they moved closer to the Waimangu Geyser to get a photograph. At that exact moment, the geyser erupted. The four victims were caught in the stream of super-heated water, known for reaching heights of 500 metres, and their bodies carried down to Lake Rotomahana.

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-19030905-0678-05

The other victims included Joseph Astbury Warbrick, a renowned rugby player, and two sisters, Ruby and Catherine Nicholls.

Warbrick acted as Captain for the New Zealand Natives Rugby team in 1888/89. The first New Zealand representative rugby team to tour beyond Australia, they played a staggering 107 matches in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain, winning 78 of them. After retiring from sport, he worked as a tourist guide. Joseph was the guide for the group on the day he was killed.

One of Joseph’s teammates was Purewa’s very own resident, Thomas Darby Ryan!

New Zealand rugby team. Making New Zealand :Negatives and prints from the Making New Zealand Centennial collection. Ref: MNZ-1018-1/4-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22871927

The geyser was an international attraction. Drawing people from all over the globe to witness the spectacular power of New Zealand’s natural volcanic wonders. At the time, the Waimangu Geyser was thought to be the tallest in the world at the time.

Newspapers identify David’s father as the late Henry McNaughton, who carried on a butchery business. Henry is also buried at Purewa in plot D/22/026. Our records show his last residence as the lunatic asylum – Whau Lunatic Asylum in Avondale.