Story: Visitors’ opinions about New Zealand

Sydney Parkinson's image of Poverty Bay

Sydney Parkinson's image of Poverty Bay

Sydney Parkinson was the artist on James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand. These were among the first images he made of Poverty Bay in October 1769 as the Endeavour approached the shore. Initially Parkinson portrayed a hilly place with steep cliffs, not a promising area for cultivation. But once members of the crew landed and explored the area further, they rapidly revised these opinions and were impressed by the soil's fertility, evidenced in the gardens of the Māori inhabitants. These images are hand-coloured engravings by Richard Godfrey based on Parkinson's sketches.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0037-14
Hand-coloured engraving by Sydney Parkinson

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:

Jock Phillips, 'Visitors’ opinions about New Zealand - Early visitors, 1769–1860', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/37090/sydney-parkinsons-image-of-poverty-bay (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 20 Jun 2012