Tasman Discovers Tasmania and New Zealand
Despatched by the VOC Governor-General to find a southern trade route to Chile, Tasman sailed east from Mauritius and on 24 November 1642 became the first European to sight Tasmania (naming it Van Diemen's Land after the Governor-General). Continuing east, he reached the South Island of New Zealand on 13 December — the first European to do so — naming it Staten Landt. A violent encounter at Golden Bay, where four sailors were killed by Māori, prevented a landing. Tasman continued north-east to Tonga and Fiji, then returned to Batavia, having circumnavigated Australia without seeing it.
- Year: 1642 CE
