This scene shows the bloody confrontation between Māori and Abel Tasman's men in Golden Bay in December 1642. Māori in canoes rammed one of the small Dutch boats that was passing between Tasman's two ships, killing four sailors. A shot fired in retaliation hit one Māori man, but it is not clear whether he was killed. The Dutch called the bay 'Murderers' Bay' after the incident, which helped establish a view of Māori as an aggressive people.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference:
PUBL-0086-021
Photolithograph after a drawing 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.
Add new comment