The year is 1769. The tangata whenua have called Aotearoa home for many generations, and have roots through every part of the whenua.
Europeans, however, know very little about it. They think it might be part of a huge new landmass they call the Great Southern Continent. After his mission in Tahiti, James Cook is sent here to investigate, and to chart and claim any new lands for Great Britain.
After nearly 3 weary months at sea, the Endeavour arrives. Young Nick, the 12 year old surgeon’s boy wins a gallon of rum for being the first to sight land. The headland is given the name Young Nick’s Head in his honour – and the process of putting the British stamp on the whenua begins.
The tangata whenua are unsure what to make of these pale skinned strangers arriving on their shores. Fighting breaks out, and a number of tangata whenua are killed.
Luckily Tupaia, who joined the Endeavour in Tahiti, steps up and helps the tangata whenua and the British communicate, preventing further deaths as the Endeavour travels north.
News of the ship spreads quickly up the coast, and rangatira, Māori leaders, come out to meet with the visitors.
Once it is clear the British aren’t here to fight, they are welcomed onto the whenua.
Meanwhile Tupaia meets with rangatira – his mana is recognised and his stories of their shared ancestry earn him a strong reputation among the people
Christmas is celebrated on board the ship with pie made from 60 gannets, washed down with plenty of beer.
When they aren’t eating them, the British marvel at all the new birds and plants they find in Aotearoa
They collect and draw everything they come across as part of their scientific mission.
Cook continues charting the coast, and gives English names to many of the features of this whenua.
Things get off to a rocky start in Totaranui… but Tupaia is able to work his magic and bring peace.
A friendship is struck up with local rangatira, and the next month is spent fixing up and restocking) the ship, exploring the area and learning about Māori life and customs.
Cook is given permission to hoist the British flag, claiming Aotearoa for Britain. But what did the local leaders believe they were agreeing to?
Cook does an amazing job of charting the coastline from the deck of the ship – although there are a couple of… mistakes in the South. Can you spot them?
Oh and here – were they take a random detour after one of the crew thought they saw land in the distance. Oops.
After rounding the South, it becomes clear that this is not the Great Southern Continent they were hoping to find. Disappointed, and with bad weather battering the ship - they make their way up the west coast.
With his mission to chart New Zealand complete, Cook stops one last time to ready the ship for another long voyage. They head west to look for the East Coast of Australia, before returning home with their precious new knowledge.
With Aotearoa now on the map, more European ships quickly follow in the Endeavour’s path.
For the tangata whenua, life continues for a while as it had, but great change is