Today in History

1770 Ngati Kahu kidnap victim dies at sea on French ship

Ranginui was a Ngati Kahu leader from Doubtless Bay who was kidnapped by the French explorer Jean François Marie de Surville. De Surville's ship, the Saint Jean Baptiste, had arrived off northern New Zealand in December 1769. In stormy conditions he and James Cook probably passed within 20 or 25 miles of each other as the French rounded North Cape. They spent the rest of December at anchor in Doubtless Bay. Plants found on shore helped to restore the health of some of de Surville's crew who were suffering from scurvy, but not before seven men died.

Most of the time relations between the French and local Maori were friendly. De Surville respected what he understood of Maori etiquette. Maori supplied the French with much needed greens and were in turn presented with hogs, a cock and a hen, wheat, rice, peas and cloth. De Surville and his officers recorded their impressions of Maori customs and artefacts in their journals, which provide a valuable insight into Maori life. The ship's chaplain probably celebrated Mass on Christmas Day, making this the first Christian service to be held in New Zealand.

At the end of December relations between the French and Maori worsened. A small boat from the Saint Jean Baptiste drifted ashore and was taken by Maori. An angry de Surville responded by burning some huts, food stores, nets and a canoe.

At this point Ranginui, who had been particularly hospitable towards the visitors, was taken aboard the Saint Jean Baptiste. The French hoped he could teach them more about New Zealand's resources, but a violent storm forced de Surville to set sail, heading east into the southern Pacific.

While he was taken against his will, Ranginui was apparently well treated. But as the French encountered no land, those onboard became increasingly debilitated. Stricken with scurvy, Ranginui died on 24 March 1770, within sight of the Juan Fernandez Islands off Chile.