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Kōrero: Place names

Cook’s map of New Zealand

British navigator James Cook made the first map of the entire New Zealand coastline during his visit in 1769–70. Many surviving place names conferred by Cook appear on the map, including East Cape, Cape Campbell and Cape Farewell. It also shows names conferred by Abel Tasman (such as Cape Maria van Diemen) and Māori names (such as Toaipoonamoo for Te Wai Pounamu, the South Island).

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Malcolm McKinnon, Place names – Naming the country and the main islands, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/19330/cooks-map-of-new-zealand (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Malcolm McKinnon, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.