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Story: European exploration

Otago province

In 1866 the Otago Survey Office compiled this map of Otago. The inland area as far west as the lakes was known through J. T. Thomson’s work, supplemented by his assistant surveyors Alex Garvie and James McKerrow. The mapped areas west of the lakes drew on the explorations of James Hector, William Rees, Patrick Caples and W. Arthur. Only the inland areas of Fiordland remained unmapped.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau

Reference: NZ Map 3811

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, European exploration – Otago and Southland, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/11275/otago-province (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.