Story: European discovery of New Zealand

All images and media

From page 1 - Before Tasman

Early Pacific journeys

Early Pacific journeys

Proof of Spanish discovery?

Proof of Spanish discovery?

Terra australis incognita

Terra australis incognita

From page 2 - Abel Tasman

Tasman’s first view of New Zealand

Tasman’s first view of New Zealand

Conflict at Murderers Bay

Conflict at Murderers Bay

Golden Bay

Golden Bay

From page 3 - Tasman’s achievement

Tasman’s ‘ragged line’

Tasman’s ‘ragged line’

Map of Nova Zelandia

Map of Nova Zelandia

Commemorating Tasman

Commemorating Tasman (1st of 3)

Tasman Road, Ōtaki

Tasman Road, Ōtaki (2nd of 3)

Tasman stamp

Tasman stamp (3rd of 3)

From page 4 - James Cook

British Pacific expeditions

British Pacific expeditions

An 18th-century observatory tent

An 18th-century observatory tent

Chronometer, c. 1820

Chronometer, c. 1820

Instructions for James Cook’s first expedition

Instructions for James Cook’s first expedition (1st of 2)

Extract from James Cook’s instructions

Extract from James Cook’s instructions (2nd of 2)

From page 5 - Cook’s three voyages

Young Nicks Head

Young Nicks Head

Replica of the Endeavour

Replica of the Endeavour

James Cook’s map of the South Island

James Cook’s map of the South Island (1st of 3)

Banks Peninsula mapped as an island

Banks Peninsula mapped as an island (2nd of 3)

Cook’s South Cape

Cook’s South Cape (3rd of 3)

The Resolution medal

The Resolution medal

Impressions of ‘Dusky Bay’

Impressions of ‘Dusky Bay’ (1st of 2)

‘A view in Dusky Bay’

‘A view in Dusky Bay’ (2nd of 2)

‘Cook’s Cove’

‘Cook’s Cove’

From page 6 - Cook’s achievement

Cook’s map of New Zealand

Cook’s map of New Zealand

Mt Taranaki in Cook's journal, 13 January 1770

Mt Taranaki in Cook's journal, 13 January 1770

Documenting native plants

Documenting native plants (1st of 2)

Drawing of Pittosporum tenuifolium

Drawing of Pittosporum tenuifolium (2nd of 2)

Early depiction of a Māori chief

Early depiction of a Māori chief

Memorials to James Cook

Memorials to James Cook

Cook stamps

Cook stamps (1st of 3)

Centennial stamp

Centennial stamp (2nd of 3)

Millennial stamp

Millennial stamp (3rd of 3)

From page 7 - Explorers after Cook

The Chatham Islands

The Chatham Islands

Russian commemorative medallion

Russian commemorative medallion

From page 8 - French explorers

One of de Surville’s anchors

One of de Surville’s anchors

French sketch of a Māori

French sketch of a Māori

The death of Marion du Fresne

The death of Marion du Fresne

Spotted stargazer

Spotted stargazer

The Astrolabe in French Pass

The Astrolabe in French Pass

Dumont d'Urville's charts

Dumont d'Urville's charts

From page 9 - Last discoveries

Port Macquarie, about 1813

Port Macquarie, about 1813 (1st of 2)

Detail of Port Macquarie chart

Detail of Port Macquarie chart (2nd of 2)

The entrance to Port Oxley (Otago Harbour), 1826

The entrance to Port Oxley (Otago Harbour), 1826

Manukau Heads

Manukau Heads (1st of 2)

Detail of Manukau Heads chart

Detail of Manukau Heads chart (2nd of 2)

Tasman Glacier

Tasman Glacier

The Southern Alps

The Southern Alps

How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'All images and media', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/european-discovery-of-new-zealand/media (accessed 30 September 2023)

Story by John Wilson, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 May 2016