New Zealand was first seen by European eyes when Abel Tasman viewed the West Coast on 13 December 1642. One of his associates, Isaac Gilsemans, sketched the land near Cape Foulwind. A translation of his note reads: ‘Thus appears the main land to south of the Rocky Point [Cape Foulwind] when you sail along the coast and views of the Rocky Point which appear thus as you can see below’. The prominent islands called The Steeples can be seen at upper left.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference:
PUBL-0086-019
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.
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