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Abel Tasman memorial, Golden Bay
Abel Tasman was the Dutch navigator whose expedition made the first European sighting of New Zealand in 1642. An easy five-minute walking track leads to a viewing platform and the memorial which stands on a limestone outcrop above the sea. Built in 1942 to commemorate the centenary of Tasman's visit, the memorial was 'reopened' in 1992 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.Information from the Department of Conservation website. Read more here.
Abel Tasman

Mariner, explorer, landowner, trader

Abel Tasman is officially recognised as the first European to ‘discover’ New Zealand in 1642. His men were the first Europeans to have a confirmed encounter with Maori. The misunderstanding and fear aroused by two such different worlds coming together soon led to violence.

First contact between Māori and Europeans
On the evening of 18 December Abel Tasman and his men had the first known European encounter with Māori. Although this initial meeting was peaceful, misunderstanding and fear soon led to violence.
Abel Tasman stamp
Abel Tasman features in The A to Z of New Zealand stamp series produced by New Zealand Post in 2008.
Gannet pie for Christmas
Gannets – served as 'Goose pye' –  were used for James Cook's first New Zealand Christmas meal.
First recorded European sighting of New Zealand
Towards noon the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted 'a large land, uplifted high'. What he saw may have been the peaks of the Paparoa Range behind Punakaiki.
Perrine Moncrieff
For nearly 50 years Perrine Moncrieff was this country's foremost female conservationist. Born into an upper-class British family, she immigrated to New Zealand in 1921, settled in Nelson and bought land on the shores of Tasman Bay, which became a scenic reserve in the 1930s.
Murderers Bay, 1642
Gilsemans, Isaac: 'A view of the Murderers' Bay, as you are at anchor here in 15 fathom (1642)'
European explorers - exploration of New Zealand
Spanish and the Portuguese had an active presence in the Pacific from the early 16th century, but there is no firm evidence of Europeans reaching New Zealand before Abel Tasman in 1642.
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