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Story: Place names

Three Kings Islands

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Three Kings Islands

Isaac Gilsemans, who sailed with Abel Tasman, drew this picture of the Three Kings Islands. Tasman’s ships anchored off the islands on 5 January 1643, the eve of Epiphany or Three Kings Day, which commemorates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus, 12 days after Christmas.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0105-004

by Isaac Gilsemans

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Place names – Early explorers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/19332/three-kings-islands (accessed 16 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 1 March 2009.