Overview: NEW ZEALAND’S EARLY EUROPEAN EXPLORERS
- Kerry Paul
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 10
The Untold Story of Early European Explorers to New Zealand
Did you know New Zealand’s European history might stretch back much further than Abel Tasman’s famous 1642 voyage? If you’re fascinated by lost maps, daring expeditions, and historical mysteries, you’ll want to read on. This blog series reveals compelling evidence and scholarly debate around the possibility that Portuguese explorers reached New Zealand a century before Tasman—and why this story has remained hidden for so long.
The Forgotten Voyage of Cristóvão de Mendonça
At the heart of this story is the extraordinary journey of Cristóvão de Mendonça, a Portuguese commander who set sail from Malacca in 1522 with four ships, searching for the legendary “Isles of Gold.” His fleet mapped the eastern coast of Australia and much of New Zealand’s North Island, as shown in the stunning Vallard Atlas—a collection of maps that predates Tasman’s arrival by over 100 years.
Maps, Artifacts, and Māori Memories
What makes this story so compelling? The evidence is as diverse as it is intriguing:
The Vallard Atlas: This 16th-century map series, stored in California’s Huntington Library, depicts the North Island as “Illa do Magna” and features over 120 Portuguese place names. Its accuracy and detail suggest firsthand exploration.
Artifacts in Wellington Harbour: A 16th-century European iron helmet and a cannonball, both recovered from Wellington Harbour, point to early European contact. Māori oral traditions recall a large, square-rigged vessel crewed by armoured sailors—possibly Mendonça’s fleet.
British Admiralty Charts: Maps from the early 1800s refer to Cook Strait as the “Gulf of the Portuguese 1550,” hinting at knowledge of New Zealand’s coast long before Dutch and English explorers arrived. Why Was This History Hidden?
Portugal kept these discoveries secret due to treaties with Spain that divided the world between the two powers. Revealing new lands could mean losing them to rivals. Later, the catastrophic Lisbon earthquake of 1755 destroyed many records, leaving only fragments for historians to piece together.
Historians Weigh In
Leading historians, including Dr. Thomas Hocken and Dr. Robert McNab, have long argued that New Zealand’s history is written with a Dutch and English bias. They believe Portuguese explorers likely visited these shores centuries earlier, and that hidden archives may still hold more secrets.
Why You Should Explore This Story
If you’re curious about:
The real origins of European exploration in New Zealand
How old maps and artifacts can rewrite history
The global race for gold, spices, and new lands
The interplay of myth, evidence, and scholarly debate
…then this blog series is a must-read. It’s a journey through time, challenging accepted narratives and inviting you to see New Zealand’s past in a whole new light.
Ready to explore the untold story? Discover the evidence, follow the voyages, and decide for yourself: Did Europeans reach New Zealand long before Tasman? Join the conversation.
Read the Blog Series in www.kerrypaul.co.nz : New Zealand’s Early European Explorers starting 1. Did European Explorers Visit New Zealand Before Abel Tasman?
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