Daily Curiosityby Erudico

General History · Question

Who is believed to have been the first European to 'discover' the land of New Zealand?

Answer

Abel Tasman

The story behind the answer

Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator for the Dutch East India Company, was the first European known to sight New Zealand in 1642. He charted parts of the coast, named it “Nieuw Zeeland” after the Dutch province Zeeland, and the nearby Tasman Sea carries his name. After a deadly encounter with Māori in Golden Bay, he departed without landing.

By contrast, Columbus reached the Caribbean (1492), John Cabot explored Newfoundland (1497), and Jeanne Baré was the first woman to circumnavigate (1760s). Memory tip: Tasman →

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