Terra australis incognita

Terra australis incognita

The European discovery of New Zealand was bound up with speculation about a ‘terra australis incognita’ (unknown south land), and efforts to prove its existence and exploit its resources. The map pictured here was drawn by a Dutch cartographer, Henricus Hondius, and published in 1637, five years before Tasman discovered New Zealand. It centres on the South Pole (Polus Antarcticus) and depicts the western and southern coasts of Australia (lower right). However, Hondius shows Australia as separate from the supposed terra australis incognita, which he located to the east.