"And so we Began"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 137, 18 March 1940, Page 6

"And so we Began"

New Zealand in History I j Over a thousand years ago there lived in the Eastern ' Pacific a daring navigator named Kupe, Avho had explored many of the groups of the Central Pacific, as well as Hawaii in the north. Kupe, whose home was at Rangiatea, an island of the Society Group, noticed in the autumn, the constant flying of certain birds always coming from a south-westerly direction. As these were land birds, and not sea birds, Kupe came to the definite conclusion that land lay to the southwest. Early in the tenth century Kupe, after journeying to Raratonga, decided on a further voyage of discovery. Regarding the actual voyage itself across the turbulent ocean, no authentic details have been preserved in history. However,, it is on record that, one morning in early summer, Kupe's wife, Hine, (who with a tohunga accompanied the early navigator), looking ahead, beheld in the distance clouds hanging low over land. "Behold the aotea (white cloud). At last we have found land." From this exclamation of Kupe's wife, comes the legendary Maori name for New Zealand "Aotea-roa," the latter part of the word being added by Kupe himself when he found how large a new land they had discovered. Before sailing back to Raratonga, Kupe is considered to have sailed completely around New Zealand. Coming of First White Men. Following Kupe's discovery of New Zealand, over 700 years were ro elapse before the first white map was to sight our shores. Towards the end of 1642, a Dutch expedition under the leadership of Abel Tasman sailed into Golden Bay, and a boat was sent from each ship with landing parties. ! However, Tasman was not able to establish friendly relations with the Maori people, and it is recorded ihat four of his crew were massacred by the Maoris. Following the report of Tasman covering his voyage, a Dutch geographer named Broner gave "this little country" the name of New Zealand in 161.3. British Sovereignty. ! Then. 12G years after Tasman discovered and charted New ! Zealand, in 1769 came the first British navigator and ex- > ploring party to our lands. On October 6 1769 Captain James Cook landed adjacent to where Gisborne stands to- ! day. Captain Cook's expedition was seientiliealij' equipped for surveying, and for tile observation of native conditions, plants, animals, and minera's Early in 1770, Captain Cook made a declaration of British sovereignty over New Zealand. Although a few years after Captain Cook's visit, whalers, sealers, and traders from Sydney began to search for sapplies and trade in New Zealand, it was not until 1810 —■ that historic one hundred years ago—that organised settlement for the colonisation of New Zealand was put into operation in Great Britain. And paramount in this story of early colonisation will alwa3 r s be revered the name of I Edward Gibbon Wakefield.