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Story: Marlborough places

The Astrolabe in Te Aumiti (French Pass)

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The <em>Astrolabe</em> in Te Aumiti (French Pass)

French navigator and explorer Dumont D’Urville successfully piloted the Astrolabethrough the treacherous waters of Te Aumiti, which he named ‘Passe des Français’, in January 1827.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-052-004

by Alfred-Leon Lemercier

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Marlborough places – Western Sounds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/31814/the-astrolabe-in-te-aumiti-french-pass (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 9 May 2011, updated 18 June 2015.