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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 1, Issue 5, October 1985

The Historical Significance of Cook's Visit to Whareatea Bay

The Historical Significance of Cook's Visit to Whareatea Bay

In terms of New Zealand history Cook's visit to Whareatea had little practical impact. For him it was simply the closest suitable anchorage to restore the ship's supplies of wood and water and to consider his future course. His work in New Zealand on the first voyage was complete. In a geographical sense he had already defined New Zealand's coastline in his circumnavigation. His visit provided little new evidence about the ountry. He made no contact with the maori occupants of the area who were presumably in other parts at the time. The Whareatea anchorage, although fulfilling a need and despite the fact that Tasman had also anchored in the area in 1642 (just off the Rangitoto Islands), did not have the qualities of the important secure anchorages such as Ship Cove or Dusky Bay which would be used in successive visits by Cook.

It can in fact be argued that Cook's visit to Whareatea Bay has a greater significance to Australian history than New Zealand's. Having made the decision to avoid the Cape Horn route and return instead via the Dutch East Indies Cook was able to chart the east coast of New Holland (Australia) and complete the outline of that continent, one of the great achievements of his first voyage.

page 38

While it is important that we recognise the achievement of James Cook in the fields of navigation, surveying and natural history, and note with interest his brief stop on our part of the New Zealand coastline, it is also important to remember in placing his and his predecessor Tasman's visit in perspective that they were not the first to undertake such exploration in Nelson. That honour lies with the Polynesian navigators who had settled in the area at least 600 years previously.