explorers

Once the early European explorers had determined the basic outline of the New Zealand islands, the few remaining coastal puzzles were solved by visiting sealers, whalers and those engaged in the early timber and flax trade. In 1804 the American sealer Owen F. Smith discovered Foveaux Strait, disproving James Cook’s idea that Stewart Island might be joined to the South Island.

The romance and sheer challenge of getting to the far-flung islands of New Zealand have made the exploration of this land a popular topic of study. There are many websites on both the Polynesian discovery and European rediscovery of New Zealand, so this feature is a carefully selected and annotated collection of website links.

Early European explorers

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. Nor is there evidence that Arab or Chinese ships (trading in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea) were ever off New Zealand's coast.

There was speculation that a terra australis incognita (unknown southern land) existed, but European presence in the Pacific remained well north of New Zealand before the mid 17th century.

Draughtsman, artist, surveyor, explorer, soldier and public servant Charles Heaphy wearing the Victoria Cross he was awarded in 1867.

• Read more about Charles Heaphy

The multi-faceted Charles Heaphy made quite an impact on colonial New Zealand as an artist, explorer, soldier and colonial administrator. He was the first colonial soldier to win the Victoria Cross

The dutch explorer 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.

Detail from Charles Wilkes' 1840 map of Antarctica. Wilkes provided the first evidence that Antarctica was a continent. This detail shows the area where James Cook's 1773 map finished. (See a full zoomable version of this map on the David Rumsey Collection website.)

Sketch drawn of the first landing by the Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink (c.1895). In it he portrays himself as the first to set foot on the Antarctic mainland and he does not include Alexander von Tunzelmann at all.

In 1880 the renowned ‘backwoodsman’ Sutherland had ‘discovered’ the waterfall that bears his name on what is now the Milford Track – New Zealand’s best-known walking track.

Image: Donald Sutherland (DNZB) 

At Wharehunga Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound, 10 men serving under Tobias Furneaux on the sister vessel to James Cook’s Resolution died at the hands of Ngāti Kuia and Rangitāne led by the chief Kahura.