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Story: Wellington region

Bypassed by Cook

The British navigator James Cook sailed past Wellington twice. He made this chart of New Zealand after his first voyage in 1769–70. It shows the Wellington coastline, but not the harbour, which he never entered.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0037-25

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

Chris Maclean, Wellington region – European arrival, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/13227/bypassed-by-cook (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Chris Maclean, published 3 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.