Kōrero: Charting the sea floor

James Cook's New Zealand

James Cook's New Zealand

Drawn by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, this is easily recognisable as New Zealand. It was the first complete chart of the country’s coastline, and is remarkably accurate and incredibly detailed. Although some people like to dwell on Cook’s errors (Banks Peninsula is shown as an island, and Stewart Island is connected to the mainland), his precision and scientific approach set the standards for the work of the British Admiralty, which published its first official charts in 1800.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0037-25

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Lionel Carter, 'Charting the sea floor - First charts of New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/map/5953/james-cooks-new-zealand (accessed 19 April 2024)

He kōrero nā Lionel Carter, i tāngia i te 12 Jun 2006