New Zealand’s Early European Explorers: Uncovering Hidden History

Abel Tasman’s 1642 expedition is widely accepted as the first European arrival in New Zealand—but could Portuguese or Spanish navigators have ventured here earlier? Portugal (like India before it) had two commercial aims: control of the East’s spice trade and the acquisition of gold. Gold was important for the manufacture of coinage and if there was a shortage it could restrict business. By the early 1500’s the supply of gold from Africa was in decline. New sources had to be

Mendonça’s fleet mapped the eastern coastline of Australia and most of the North Island of New Zealand long before other modern European explorers officially recorded their discoveries. The map is included in the Vallard Atlas, part of the Dieppe Portulan map series stored in the Huntington Library, San Marino, California, USA . Vallard Atlas Front Cover The Vallard Atlas is a remarkable collection of maps that depict the extensive Portuguese voyages of the time with astonish

Mendonca had departed from Malacca, Malaysia with four ships in January 1522. Mendonca sailed a 3 masted carrack (1000-2000 tonnes). By comparison, it could sail at twice the speed of Cook’s 368 tonnes Endeavour 250 years later. Cristóvão de Mendonça’s Carrack Mendonca’s Fleet Enroute to New Zealand (Conceptual) Second ship a caravel, third a bargantim or brigantine, the fourth, a parau – Malay sailing vessel (Captain Goncalo Homem)- this ship was designed for close inshore e

Mendonca’s voyage around the North Island continues as we further explore the Portuguese discovery of New Zealand and New Zealand’s early European explorers . Mendonca decided to sail south of Mt Egmont (Taranaki). The Vallard Map shows the coastline running east and eventually turning back toward the southwest before ending abruptly at a prominent round headland. This headland matches the shape of Cape Terawhiti, at the extreme southwestern point of the North Island. Illa do

Mendonca’s voyage around the North Island continues. North of the Bay of Plenty is a small promontory or headland representing a truncated Coromandel Peninsula and an offshore island. This corresponds in both shape and position to the mountainous Great Barrier Island. The island seems to have been drawn on a larger scale. The two harbours on the island’s sheltered western coast are shown in some detail, suggesting Mendonca may have moored there. The harbour of Tryphena, at th

Mendonca’s chart of Wellington Harbour is meticulously detailed, highlighting key features that could only be captured through firsthand experience. The harbour would have been an ideal location for the Portuguese to make repairs and replenish their fresh water supply after enduring a storm off Australia’s eastern coast. Over the years, evidence has surfaced supporting Mendonca’s presence in Wellington Harbour. Around 1900, the Wellington Museum acquired an iron helmet found

After clearing Great Barrier Island, Mendonca’s priority was to set course for the Portuguese base in Malacca, Malaysia. By then, it would be around one year since he left Malacca, likely early autumn in the South Pacific. He would be sailing at the right time to take advantage of the strengthening southeast trade winds to return to Malacca and then India. Mendonca needed to reach Goa, the major Portuguese naval base for the Far East, by September 1523 to avoid the contrary w

Preamble:  The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was an agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide newly discovered lands outside of Europe. It established a line of demarcation, with Spain claiming lands to the west and Portugal to the east. This division aimed to prevent conflict between the two powers during their age of exploration and colonisation. Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 Division Line Between Portugal and Spain The Portuguese had strong incentives to keep an

Jose Alberto Leitao Barata (2003) discovered references to Mendonca’s expedition in the 1962 work of Padre Antonio da Silva Rego, who sourced Portuguese records in Mozambique (unaffected by Lisbon earthquake/fires) where the Portuguese had bases in the sixteenth century. Beyond Capricorn by Peter Trickett Peter Trickett, Beyond Capricorn  (2007) conducted a detailed process of identification of Australian coastal features which is critical to proving the accuracy of the Valla

The supporting evidence for Mendonca visiting New Zealand follows. The Curator of Maps at the British Library, Helen Wallis in 1981 commentary on the Dieppe maps (including the Vallard Atlas) stated: “… it is notable how many of these names are descriptive of physical features…others seem to record the events and personal associations of an exploring voyage, including saints’ names…it is clear that the land represents a discovery made on a European voyage or coastal explorati

The following is an outline of the evidence supporting Mendonca's visit to New Zealand. One piece of evidence exists with the British Admiralty Chart No. 748 printed in 1803 containing references to a Portuguese discovery of New Zealand around 1550. This Chart was used for the next 50 years. Cook Strait was named as the “ Gulf of the Portuguese ” and East Cape is “ Cabo Fermoso ” which is Cape Beautiful in Portuguese. Written on the map next to New Zealand was: “ New Zeeland

Our history is taught in terms of British and Dutch colonial empires with the role of the Portuguese treated as minimal. At the beginning of the 17th century Dutch explorers began to uncover the secrets of the Australian continent. Willem Jansz and his crew of the  Duyfken  made history in 1606 by being the first recorded Europeans to set foot on Australian soil at the Pennefather River on Cape York Peninsula. Many Dutch explorers followed later in the century and named the c

The Vallard Atlas map describes a place called " Terra Java " which bears strong similarities to Australia's coastline - except that, at one point, it juts out at right angles for more than 900 miles. Terra Java in Vallard Atlas Note: the French photographers designed maps in the southern hemisphere upside down. For ease of viewing, we have put the map up the correct way, with the images being upside down. Peter Trickett in Beyond Capricorn provides a straightforward explana

Portuguese Armada of Ships Prince Henry the Navigator Portugal's maritime expeditions during the late 1400s set the stage for global exploration and trade, ushering in the Age of Discovery. Facing a shortage of precious metals, Portugal sought wealth overseas, kicking off the Age of Discovery in 1415 with the conquest of Ceuta in North Africa. Prince Henry the Navigator played a key role, establishing a robust investment in Portugal’s naval capabilities. He devoted himself to

Portuguese Exploration The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in the East Indies in the early 1500’s, establishing a network of trading posts and fortresses, including in the Spice Islands and a major port in Malacca in 1511. The Portuguese aimed to control the spice trade and extend their Christian missionary efforts. Portugal went through a “Golden Age” in the sixteenth century. Portugal’s seaborne empire extended from West Africa to Brazil and from Mozambique to

Portuguese Visit to New Zealand This Blog Series explores the history of European exploration in New Zealand, focusing on the possibility of Portuguese or Spanish navigators arriving before Abel Tasman in 1642. It begins by discussing Portugal's commercial aims in the 16th century, particularly the control of the spice trade and the search for new gold sources. The Portuguese, led by explorers like Cristóvão de Mendonça, dominated the spice and gold trades and expanded their

Here are the key findings from the Blog Series titled "New Zealand's Early European Explorers": Cristóvão de Mendonça Early European Exploration : The Blogs explore the possibility that Portuguese or Spanish navigators may have arrived in New Zealand before Abel Tasman in 1642. Cristóvão de Mendonça's Expedition : Cristóvão de Mendonça led an expedition in 1522/23 from Malacca, Malaysia, with four ships to explore Australia's east coast and New Zealand's North Island. His fle