This Day In History - New Zealand Discovered By Europeans 1642

New Zealand Discovered By Europeans 1642

Monday, December 13, 2021

All Day

Be the first to attend this event.

Event Description

Dutch navigator Abel Tasman becomes the first European explorer to sight the South Pacific island group now known as New Zealand. In his sole attempt to land, several of Tasman's crew were killed by warriors from a South Island tribe, who interpreted the Europeans' exchange of trumpetsignals as a prelude to battle. A few weeks earlier, Tasman had discovered Tasmania, off the southeast coast of Australia.

Event Location

New Zealand