Abel Tasman in the Pacific

In 1602, the United East India Company was formed to enable the Netherlands to exploit the riches of the Moluccas or ‘Spice Islands’ in the East Indies (now Indonesia). Dutch sailor Abel Tasman became one of their best captains.

In 1642, he led an expedition into the South Pacific, to look for new trade opportunities. Tasman became the first European to find what is now called Tasmania. He then sailed across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand’s west coast, and charted part of it.

Tasman’s hostile reception from Māori put the company off making further expeditions here. However, his chart and the name ‘Nieuw Zeeland’ later appeared on world maps.