Kiribati nationals living in Whangarei are devastated about a boating tragedy back home, and say such incidents are becoming all too common.

The MV Butiraoi, a 17.5m wooden catamaran, departed Nonouti Island, Kiribati, on January 18 on a two-day journey to the port of Betio on Tarawa atoll.

The catamaran, which had only one life raft and two dinghies but no form of emergency detection beacon, broke apart and sank. A dinghy carrying seven of the passengers has been rescued but the ferry remains missing.

Rescued passengers from the stricken vessel in a raft ready to be rescued in waters off Kiribati. Photo / Supplied
Rescued passengers from the stricken vessel in a raft ready to be rescued in waters off Kiribati. Photo / Supplied

Many of those who perished would have been children on their way to the high school in Tarawa, because the new term starts next week. The sunken catamaran underwent repairs for a damaged propeller and was found to have been unseaworthy just before its final voyage.

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Three Kiribati families live in Whangarei and got together at the weekend to discuss the tragedy.

None of their families were on the MV Butiraoi but Whangarei security officer Biremon Ukeaba suspects a woman still missing went to school with him.

"It's the worst maritime disaster in Kiribati. Everybody on the island is so sad and so are we here in Whangarei. I think I went to school with a female who's still missing."

Mr Ukeaba said it was disappointing to hear the catamaran was not supposed to have sailed because it was unseaworthy.

His brother-in-law Artis Ruatu said the Kiribati government needed to tighten maritime laws, especially around weight restrictions on small inter-island vessels.

"Disasters like that are becoming really common. Places people need to travel to are really close by and they are confident in their seafaring ability while out at sea but things go wrong from time to time.

"Small boats there are made with plywood and people are just not careful while travelling in them. Even fishermen go missing so I think the government needs to step up."

Mr Ruatu hails from the Kiribati capital Tarawa and has lived in Whangarei for 12 years.

His wife hails from Nonouti Island but none of her relatives presently reside there.

Kiribati president Taneti Maamau has declared a "national week of prayer" on the island.