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Kōrero: Visitors’ opinions about New Zealand

Conflict in Golden Bay

Image
Conflict in Golden Bay

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.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0086-021

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Jock Phillips, Visitors’ opinions about New Zealand – Early visitors, 1769–1860, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/37092/conflict-in-golden-bay (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Jock Phillips, i tāngia i te 23 May 2012.